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~ by Cathy Levy
The Osborn 56-acre campus is the only private arboretum in Westchester County. It has been awarded Level I Accreditation by the ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program for achieving standards of professional practices. This accreditation program, sponsored and coordinated by The Morton Arboretum in cooperation with American Public Gardens Association and Botanic Gardens Conservation International, is the only global initiative to officially recognize arboreta based on a set of professional standards.
The Arboretum is named for the organization’s foundress Miriam Osborn, a 19th century philanthropist who envisioned a place where women could enjoy a gracious and intellectually enriching retirement. The Osborn welcomed men into the community in the 1990s. The co-founder, attorney John Sterling, envisioned a landscape plan that reflected the sensibility of the “pleasure grounds” of England with a winding carriage drive, open lawns and shaded walks. Sterling’s intended to plant at least one tree of each variety suitable for the climate. In all, 2,258 trees were planted, some of the seeds coming from Europe. Many of these trees remain today to the delight of those who visit the campus every season. Today the Arboretum has over 1,000 trees and 115 species.
Spending time in nature is an important part of any wellness program, and our residents, staff and visitors take advantage of our beautiful surroundings every day. The Arboretum is available for educational programs throughout the year. The Osborn residents actively engage in nature appreciation programs conducted by the Rye Nature Center and other local organizations. Many of our resident activities are held outdoors, such as the Dog Days of Summer and the Spring Fashion Show. We also invite the community to our campus for events, including our annual Jack Miller Easter Egg Hunt, the day before Easter and the Arbor Day Celebration. Before the COVID pandemic, WellSpring educational events were held, as well as the Summer Lawn Concerts.
The Arboretum is generously supported by donations from our residents and the community to The Osborn Foundation. This support enabled us to recently complete a comprehensive survey of the trees and embark on an accelerated program of tagging, maintaining and replanting the trees. Please reach out to us if you are interested in learning more about the Arboretum or its conservation.