Tour the trees of Spiegel Grove

FREMONT — See the many trees of Spiegel Grove in Fremont and learn about their types and history during a variety of tree tours offered throughout the year. Tours last about an hour and cover different trees and topics ranging from giant trees to trees that President Rutherford B. Hayes and his descendants named in honor of people they admired. These tours enhance the experience of walking at Spiegel Grove, an official arboretum and estate of the president and his wife, First Lady Lucy Hayes. Tickets are required and are available at rbhayes.org. They also will be sold at the museum front desk the days of the events, pending availability. The 2023 schedule of tours (Note: Check the website for pricing information) • Friday, April 28 — Arbor Day Sunrise Tree Tour, departs at 7:30 a.m. from the Hayes Home verandah. "During this special tour, learn how wassail, a cider drink popular during the Victorian era, was used to wake up the apple trees and scare away bad spirits. The tour will highlight some of the unique trees at the Grove. Afterward, enjoy wassail and breakfast sweets on the verandah." • Saturday, May 6 — Mystic Giants Tree Tour, departs from the museum at 10 a.m. "View some of the larger trees at Spiegel Grove, learn how to determine the age of trees and how trees affect their environment. Hayes Presidential members and children 5 and under can enjoy this tour for free." • Saturday, June 10 — Tree Tour, departs the museum at 10 a.m. "Walk the arboretum and learn about the different trees." • Wednesday, June 14 — Trees Named in Honor, departs the museum at 5:30 p.m. "Learn the stories of the people who visited Spiegel Grove who had trees named in their honor. Also learn about the trees themselves. Afterward stay for the free Verandah Concert." • Saturday, July 1 — Tree Tour, departs the museum at 10 a.m. "Walk the arboretum and learn about the different trees." • Wednesday, July 12 — Mystic Giants Tree Tour, departs from the museum at 5:30 p.m. "View some of the larger trees at Spiegel Grove, learn how to determine the age of trees and how trees affect their environment. Afterward stay for the free Verandah Concert." • Wednesday, Aug. 9 — Gates and Trees, departs the museum at 5:30 p.m. "Explore the trees at Spiegel Grove. Visit the White House gates at the entrances to Spiegel Grove and learn some of the stories about them. Afterward, stay for the free Verandah Concert." • Saturday, Aug. 12 — Trees Named in Honor, departs the museum at 10 a.m. "Learn the stories of the people who visited Spiegel Grove who had trees named in their honor. Also learn about the trees themselves." • Saturday, Sept. 2 — Gates and Trees, departs the museum at 10 a.m. "Explore the trees at Spiegel Grove. Visit the White House gates at the entrances to Spiegel Grove and learn some of the stories about them." • Saturday, Sept. 30 — Tree Tour, departs the museum at 12:30 p.m. "Walk the arboretum and learn about the different trees. Bring a sack lunch and enjoy a picnic on the grounds." Spiegel Grove — located on the site of the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library & Museums site in Fremont — is a 25-acre arboretum has more than 90 species of trees, some of which date back to President Rutherford B. Hayes' time on the estate and even earlier. Varieties include chestnut, oak, holly, gingko, various pines and more. A seedling of the Oklahoma City bombing Survivor Tree also has been planted and is thriving on the property. The ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program and The Morton Arboretum named Spiegel Grove a Level 1 arboretum for achieving particular standards of professional practices deemed important for arboreta and botanic gardens. Level 1 arboreta have fewer than 100 species of trees. Spiegel Grove is close to reaching Level 2 status, which is for 100 and more species. The ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program is the only global initiative to officially recognize arboreta at various levels of development, capacity and professionalism. Spiegel Grove is also recognized as an accredited arboretum in the Morton Register of Arboreta, a database of the world's arboreta and gardens dedicated to woody plants.