WELCOME

Welcome to the Avon Woods Arboretum, a public arboretum recognizing specimen trees in the Avon Woods Neighborhood of East Memphis, Tennessee. Voluntarily led by resident Judith (Judy) Rutschman and aided by neighbors, we have identified all of the trees in all of the front yards in our Avon Woods.

Our Mission

Build Community Cohesiveness and Stability
  • Sustain our neighborhood as a desirable place to live.
  • Encourage neighbors to come together to require sustainable development practices by contractors.
  • Enhance the quality of life throughout our neighborhood through the beauty and tranquility of trees.
Grow Our Neighborhood’s Enjoyment of the Benefits of Trees
  • Remember that trees create healthier living by storing carbon, giving off oxygen through photosynthesis, creating shade and capturing particulate matter in the air on their leaves to be washed away in a rain.
  • Raise awareness that our established canopy of native trees is the perfect habitat for diverse species of birds, animals, butterflies and moths.
  • Educate the public on how to plant and nurture trees.
  • Share the need and rewards for selecting native trees.
  • Bring neighbors outdoors to take in the joys of nature.
  • Create connections between neighbors as we share time outside.
  • Sustain and maintain the beautiful natural setting of Avon Woods neighborhood.

Our Vision for Avon Woods Arboretum

Use this website to educate neighbors, share our love and respect our trees. Plan outside activities such as tree planting, tree tours, how to identify trees tours, photo shoots, sensory walks, art activities such as tracing leaves, leaf or bark rubbings, scavenger hunts for leaf shape or acorns and birding hikes. Create a yearly calendar with photos taken by our neighbors of our trees through the seasons. Grow our arboretum to include schools and churches in our neighborhood.

We can gather for meetings with guest speakers. Addressing topics such as “Leave the Leaves”, how biodiversity works, benefits of trees, talks by birders, best species for individual yards, how to plant and maintain healthy trees and the possibilities go on.

How to Get Involved

Interested in joining us to bring this vision to life? Contact Judith Rutschman.

For more information, visit our About Us page.