The mission of Adkins Arboretum, a 400-acre native garden and preserve on Marylands Eastern Shore, is to promote the appreciation and conservation of the native plants of the Delmarva Peninsula.
The Arboretums diverse setting of woodlands, meadows, wetlands, streams, and gardens serves as a model for land management and ecological restoration. Through its educational, research, cultural, and recreational programs, the Arboretum strives to inspire its community to adopt land stewardship practices for a healthier and more beautiful world.
The Arboretum strives to improve its programs and facilities to ensure that visitors have a quality educational experience and to reach beyond its borders to help the regions residents protect and restore our native landscape. The Arboretum sees itself as important an institution to the community as a library or school.
In order to broaden the Arboretums educational offerings and research initiatives, and to serve a growing membership and visitorship, the Arboretum has adopted plans for a new Arboretum Center designed by Lake/Flato Architects of San Antonio, TX that will serve as the gateway to the Arboretum. The new Center will orient visitors to the Arboretums programs, gardens, exhibits, and natural areas. It will include dedicated space for childrens and adult education programs, and provide visitor amenities, an expanded library, exhibition and community meeting space