Funded Projects2025 Funded Project: Bartlett Arboretum

August 27, 2025

Preserving Kansas’ Rich Horticultural Heritage

Established in 1910, the Bartlett Arboretum remains one of the oldest arboretums in the American Midwest, showcasing a diverse collection of native and exotic trees. For more than a century, it has dedicated itself to educating students about Kansas’ rich horticultural heritage and the species that thrive in the region’s varied climate. The Bartlett Arboretum has become a beloved destination for outdoor enthusiasts, horticulturalists, and art lovers alike. Visitors are encouraged to explore the Sumner County Victorian paradise, attend the locally famous Tree House Concerts, enjoy family-friendly food truck events, and participate in the annual Art in the Arb festival, which combines music, art, and garden exhibits.

The Area’s Leading Agri-Tourism Destination

For 22 years, Bartlett Arboretum’s Tree House Concert Series has become a musical beacon in South Central Kansas. The iconic Loblolly stage, nestled in the heart of the historic landmark, plays host to regional and national touring acts each spring, summer, and fall. Sunday afternoons offer great live music, string bands, Grammy-winning artists, symphonic reduction orchestras, songwriters, blues aficionados, bluegrass up-and-comers, and musical institutions, such as The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Michael Martin Murphey, and Suzy Bogguss, who all perform in the deep shade of the towering tree canopy. The fan-favorite series has been known to bring tens of thousands of visitors to Sumner County annually, putting Bartlett Arboretum back on the map as a leading agri-tourism attraction.

Continuing a Fan-Favorite Tradition

To honor Chris’s adventurous spirit, passion for travel, and love of people, the Chris Mikesell Foundation aims to assist organizations dedicated to preserving and protecting the environment’s natural beauty. This year’s $3,000 grant awarded to the Bartlett Arboretum will help sponsor the Annual Tree House Concert Series, a 22-year tradition bringing regional and national touring artists to the historic Kansas landmark.

“Through personal friends, we first became acquainted with Kendall and Sherry. It all began because of a gingko tree we had dug and moved from the arboretum to their home landscape to honor Chris. What bloomed from that transplanting is now fodder for a story that continues to unfold. We love the Mikesells and feel they are a Godsend to our community!”

—Bartlett Arboretum