Did you know each cemetery in the Erie Cemetery Association is an accredited
Level I Arboretum?
There are 513 Level I arboreta accredited by ArbNet, the interactive community of arboreta. To achieve these standards organizations must meet specific criteria, including planning, governance, number of tree species, staff or volunteer support, education and public programming, and tree science research and conservation.
The Cucumber-tree Magnolia
This large, deciduous magnolia tree is excellent for large properties such as our Erie Cemetery. The wide-spreading branches are covered with dark green leaves that turn an attractive yellow-brown in the fall. Although its flowers are not as showy as those of other magnolia species, it yields interesting pinkish-red fruit pods.
Cucumber-tree Magnolia
Seed Pod
Guests of the Erie Cemetery Arboretum Tour 2025
Kentucky Coffee Tree
A Kentucky Coffee Tree is identified by distinctive rough, scaly gray bark, large dark green pinnately compound leaves, and greenish-white clusters of late spring flowers. However, the most identifiable feature of the coffee tree is the large, leathery dark seed pods that dangle from the reddish branches from fall throughout winter.
Kentucky Coffee Tree at Laurel Hill Cemetery
Our Arbnet accreditation is due largely to the work of Dan Dahlkemper and Geoff Dunn, of the Erie Cemetery Association Foundation, along with David Rinderle, Erie Cemetery Association COO.
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We were very lucky to have Stephen P. Laskowski – Service Forester, Erie County DCNR – Bureau of Forestry assist us in identifying over 68 different species of trees. With Steve's guidance, we continue to educate visitors of all three cemeteries with annual tours and educational materials.
Stop in the office at Erie, Laurel Hill, or Wintergreen Gorge Cemetery and ask for the booklet "Common Trees of Pennsylvania", provided by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of Forestry.
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Don't forget to check out our Events page for our next Arboretum tour!
