Visitors to the H.O. Smith Botanic Gardens at The Arboretum at Penn State mingle in and around the site's greenery during its open house event on Friday, June 19. The event featured 33 acres currently finished or under construction, which make up Phase I of the H.O. Smith Botanic Gardens.

Photo Credit: Andy Colwell

Year Taken: 2009

This composite image of the H.O. Smith Botanic Gardens at The Arboretum at Penn State shows part of the facility as seen from the Overlook Pavilion on Friday, June 19. The Arboretum hosted an open house to showcase the incomplete yet enjoyable Gardens, already home to hundreds of plant species, situated along Bigler Road between Schreyer House and the Lewis Katz Building. East Halls, the Forest Resources Building and Business Building are visible in the center background. The project is in its first phase of construction, and is financed almost completely by private philanthropy and donations.

Photo Credit: Andy Colwell

Year Taken: 2009

A key attraction of the now-open H.O. Smith Botanic Gardens at The Arboretum at Penn State is the "River and Valley" watershed sculpture, seen here during the site's open house on Friday, June 19. The sculpture, a gift of alumnus Don Hamer and his wife Marie Bednar, is made of sculpted stone and is located outside the Overlook Pavilion within the Botanic Gardens. It details the waterways and topographic features of the Centre County/Happy Valley area, and is one of many elements completed or near completion which make up the first of several phases of the Arboretum's development.

Photo Credit: Andy Colwell

Year Taken: 2009

Visitors to the H.O. Smith Botanic Gardens at The Arboretum at Penn State mingle under the Overlook Pavilion of the facility during the Arboretum open house on Friday, June 19.

Photo Credit: Andy Colwell

Year Taken: 2009

The Overlook Pavilion, seen here, is just one part of the H.O. Smith Botanic Gardens at The Arboretum at Penn State. The facility, which was the site of an open house on Friday, June 19, is still under construction, but already features hundreds of species of plant life.

Photo Credit: Andy Colwell

Year Taken: 2009

Visitors to the H.O. Smith Botanic Gardens at The Arboretum at Penn State are visible near the Lotus Pool seen here during the Gardens' open house held on Friday, June 19. The pool is one of dozens of elements within the facility, which is located along Bigler Road and Park Avenue, across from the Lewis Katz Building, seen here in the background.

Photo Credit: Andy Colwell

Year Taken: 2009

Visitors stroll through part of the H.O. Smith Botanic Gardens at The Arboretum at Penn State during the facility's open-house social on Friday, June 19. The event was open to the public, and featured several finished parts of the site construction and development of the area. The site is located at the corner of Bigler Road and Park Avenue. East Halls are visible in the background.

Photo Credit: Andy Colwell

Year Taken: 2009

Steve and Sharon Grenoble, right, take a look at greenery along the circular Kathryn Bower Smith Strolling Garden route through the H.O. Smith Botanic Gardens at The Arboretum at Penn State. The couple visited the site as part of the open-house social held on Friday, June 19.

Photo Credit: Andy Colwell

Year Taken: 2009

Lauren Steinberg, left, Jennifer Charney, center, and Abby Hopkins, right, stroll past annual and perennial flower beds along the Joan Milius Smith Esplanade of the H.O. Smith Botanic Gardens at The Arboretum at Penn State. The three, all of whom are staff members of the Development Office within the College of Agricultural Sciences, were visiting the site as part of the open house on Friday, June 19.

Photo Credit: Andy Colwell

Year Taken: 2009