| Starhill Forest Arboretum | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Private arboretum |
| Location | 12000 Boy Scout Trail, Petersburg, Illinois |
| Area | 50 acres (20 ha) |
| Created | 1976 |
| Operated by | Guy Sternberg, Edie Sternberg |
| Open | By appointment only |
| Website | https://starhillforest.com/wp1/ |
Starhill Forest Arboretum (50 acres (20 ha)) is a private arboretum located at 12000 Boy Scout Trail, Petersburg, Illinois.
The arboretum has been owned and operated by the Sternberg family (Edie Sternberg and Guy Sternberg) since 1976.[1][2] Old trees in the forested areas date to about 1850, and the oldest planted trees were started from seed in 1964 and transplanted from another location.[3]
The Sternbergs named it Starhill Forest, derived from their last name which means "star mountain" in German.[1][4]
In 1989, five additional acres were added to the south and was completed in 2002.[1] In 2015, the Catalpa House was acquired.[1]
The present-day arboretum has 50 acres (20 ha) and seven buildings, three ponds, numerous trails, and thousands of trees.[1]
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The arboretum's primary scientific collection is a quercetum (oak collection) comprising one of the most comprehensive living reference collections for the genus in North America.[3][5][4] More than 200 other genera of woody plants are also available for study, as well as native forest areas, herb and perennial landscapes, a native prairie garden, several provenance tests, aquatic areas, and conifer plantations. The arboretum contains approximately 2500 accessioned woody taxa and 60 species of spontaneous woody plants.[2]
Permanent records include provenance information, propagation method and year, and mapped location within the arboretum.[3]
Starhill Forest Arboretum is a Level III ArbNet accredited arboretum.[2] It was one of the first 1,000 arboreta worldwide to achieve certification.[5]
In October 2008, Starhill Forest became the official arboretum of Illinois College.[6][7] The agreement created a trust and endowment to care for the arboretum.[4][8] The arboretum has hosted college interns during the summer since 2002.[9][4] Field trips, classes, tours, and volunteer opportunities are also available to the students.[9]
As it is a private residence, there are currently no regular visiting hours. Guided tours and lectures are available by scheduling an appointment.[10] Volunteers are welcome.[8]
