About the Maud Gordon Holmes Arboretum
The Maud Gordon Holmes Arboretum at Buffalo State University was formally dedicated in 1962 with the ceremonial planting of a Scots Elm in honor of Maud Gordon Holmes, founder of the Garden Center Institute of Buffalo. Since then, the arboretum has grown from 300 trees to over 1,450. The Arboretum includes many varying species of trees and numerous landscape beds featuring vibrant flowering shrubs, perennials, and annuals. The campus displays greenery year-round while marking the seasons with fragrant blossoms, shade-giving trees, and luminous autumn colors.
History of Buffalo State Arboretum
The Maud Gordon Holmes Arboretum at Buffalo State University was formally dedicated in 1962 with the ceremonial planting of a Scots elm in honor of Maud Gordon Holmes, founder of the Garden Center Institute of Buffalo. Since then, the arboretum has grown from 300 trees to nearly 1,500. The Arboretum includes many varying species of trees and numerous landscape beds featuring vibrant flowering shrubs, perennials, and annuals. The campus displays greenery year-round while marking the seasons with fragrant blossoms, shade-giving trees, and luminous autumn colors. Through the formation and fundraising efforts of the Friends of the Maud Gordon Holmes Arboretum, funds have been raised to plant over 150 new trees since 2017.
Explore Buffalo State University's campus trees with this virtual tour
Arbor Day at Buffalo State
Every April, Buffalo State University celebrates Arbor Day and Earth Day with individual events throughout the month. This cooperative effort is supported by the Campus Planning Office and the Sustainability Committee.
Tree Campus Higher Education
Buffalo State University has been recognized by the Arbor Day Foundation in 2022, 2023, and 2024 as a Tree Campus Higher Education institution. This designation is a testament to the University's commitment to the tree care and educational opportunities that this unique urban forest offers its students and the aesthetics of the surrounding neighborhood. This is a yearly designation that the campus will continue to apply for.