Omaha, NE
Plant Communities Arboretum & Bird Sanctuary Exhibits
Omaha Nebraska’s Botanical Center, Lauritzen Gardens, developed a section of its grounds as an arboretum demonstrating various plant communities native to the Omaha area. The plantings attract a wide variety of birds, and both the plant communities and the birds are interpreted in the arboretum.
One key message to communicate to visitors was that the arboretum plantings are not actual plant communities themselves, but they can visit nearby locations to experience real plant communities. This message, as well as descriptions of the demonstrated plant communities and birds typically found in the communities are communicated through 17 wayside exhibits in an interpretive shelter and throughout the garden. Prior to designing the exhibits, a signage master plan was developed. Lauritzen Gardens received a National Association for Interpretation Interpretive Media Award for wayside exhibits.
