In 1869, Lake View’s founders used horticulture as an integral part of their cemetery planning process. In doing so, they created a showcase of trees and shrubbery, cultivated for scientific, ornamental and educational purposes – an arboretum in every aspect of the word.

Japanese Maple Collection

The variability and stateliness of the Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) makes it one of the more in-demand plants for the residential landscape. Japanese maples have long been a focal landscape plant at Lake View. Practically every form can be seen somewhere on the grounds, whether it is an Upright form maturing to approximately 20-feet in height or Dissectum (laceleaf types) that mostly display a weeping shrub-like habit and matures to a 5-foot height. Linearilobum or bamboo-leaf types, tend to be semi-dwarf specimens that can grow to 12-feet. Dwarf types may be laterally spreading, globular shaped or slow growing upright types that mature at 3 to 12-feet. Variegates have multiple colored leaves and are usually semi-dwarf in form.

Moses Cleaveland Trees

Lake View is home to seven Moses Cleaveland trees, which are said to have been standing when Moses Cleaveland discovered the city that would come to bear his name. Five specimens are located on the grounds of Lake View including American Beech, Red Oak, White Oak, Sycamore and Tulip.

The White Oak (Quercus alba) in Section 8, looks like its straight out of Sleepy Hollow because of its weathered appearance and long stretched-out branches.  An additional White Oak can be found in Section 42.

The grand Tulip Poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), is the tallest of the trees, standing like a sentry in Section 1.   This specimen is best appreciated when one stands at the base of the tree and gazes straight upward. 

Section 1 also boasts an American Beech (Fagus grandiflora). Its large root flare helps hold up the tree and hillside.

In Section 5a, the Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) displays exfoliating white bark that blends in well during Winter and stands out majestically in the Spring

The Red Oak (Quercus ruba) located in Section 14, has been supported with cables and brace rods to extend its life!

Ginkgo Biloba ‘Lake View’

When looking at the distinctive pronounced buds on the many Gingko trees planted in Lake View during the dormant season or the telltale bisected leaves during the growing season, take note of the column like form of some of the trees. Certain Ginkgo specimens hold a tight, apical dominance to create this column-shaped growth. True to a cultivated variety, tip cuttings will grow in the columnar form when they are rooted or grafted to generate a new tree.

State Champion Trees

Quercus Prinus-Chestnut Oak 
Specimens of this oak can be seen abundantly around Lake View so it stands to good reason that a state champion specimen would exist on the grounds. This specimen is growing in Section 10, near the road across from Section 19 close to the Wick family monument. Our specimen measures at a circumference of 139”DBH (Diameter Breast Height), 116 feet in height and has a crown width of 95 feet giving it a total of 279 points. This specimen appears equivalent in diameter to a similar specimen lost during 2008 in Section 24 which counted to 130-years.

Magnolia Virginiana-Sweetbay Magnolia 
This magnolia is exceptional in girth and readily strikes one as being among the largest Sweetbay magnolias in the U.S. This specimen grows on the west side of Section 23 in a hedgerow of trees with adequate space to display its size. Looking south into the horseshoe shaped arrangement of trees by Section 21, one can see this champion on the right side behind the Geo. H. Worthington monument.

Weeping Canadian Hemlock

Two grand specimens of Tsuga canadensis ‘Sargentii’ include a smaller example in Section 9 near the Hanna Mausoleum along Edgehill Road. Located in Section 3 across from Daffodil Hill, this weeping Canadian hemlock was considered to be the largest specimen in the United States until the large branch on the right side failed under the snow weight during the 1996 snowstorm. Despite missing a lower limb, this specimen is still one of the largest weeping Canadian hemlocks to be seen.

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