LINCOLN, NEB. (July 27, 2005)--As the state that founded Arbor Day, and the first statewide arboretum in the country, Nebraska has had a long love affair with the garden. It must be that pioneering spirit that draws Nebraskans to don gloves and spend the spring planting gardens. Once the hard work is complete, the summer is spent visiting friends and comparing and admiring green thumbs. Thankfully there is plenty of inspiration to be found at arboretums and gardens across the state.

A true love for gardening drove Harlan and Shirley Hamernik to establish Bluebird Nursery in Clarkson, Neb., in 1958. Having been avid gardeners for many years in the Clarkson area, they decided to turn their hobby into a business, providing customers with unusual and hardy perennials. Just north of Columbus on Highway 15, this "budding" enterprise is still run by the family. The nursery's wholesale division ships millions of perennials, herbs, grasses, and wildflowers to retail stores, mail-order firms, and botanic gardens across the United States and Canada. Visitors are encouraged to identify the perfect variety while they visit the beautiful display gardens that are open year-round, and then visit the nursery to buy a part of the garden for their homes. 800-356-9164, www.bluebirdnursery.com

The Sunken Gardens in Lincoln has been a labor of love for the Lincoln community for more than 75 years. That commitment has made the Sunken Gardens the only Nebraska garden listed in the "300 Best Gardens to Visit in the United States and Canada" in the National Geographic Guide to Public Gardens.

The Sunken Gardens was created as a Depression-era project to build a 1.5-acres oasis on an abandoned neighborhood dump site. In 1930, 200 "family men" were hired to work on park projects, including the Sunken Gardens. The project was part of a city program to help unemployed men earn money and survive the hard times. Crew members worked eight-hour shifts at the rate of 40 cents per hour, two days a week for a grand total of $6.40 per week.

Each year, the community pays tribute to the efforts of those hard-working individuals by returning to the site and planting the 28,000 annuals that grace the Sunken Gardens. www.lincolnsunkengardens.com

Rolling waves of sand hills grace the horizon in every direction in western Nebraska. But what people don't often see are plants and shrubs. The climate in western Nebraska is not for the faint at heart. The cold winters and hot summers demand that only the toughest plants will survive. The Sallows Conservatory and Arboretum in Alliance specializes in displaying plants that will thrive in challenging climates.

The facility accommodates a multitude of tropical and subtropical plants in a natural setting. The arboretum provides an excellent educational opportunity for individuals interested in learning more about plant life. 308-762-2385

Amid the hustle of downtown Omaha lies Lauritzen Garden, Omaha's botanical center. This garden covers a 100-acre site, including a four-acre arboretum, a bird sanctuary, a rose garden, a children's garden, a Victorian garden, and more. Built in 1995, the center continues to add a new garden each year. This colorful and fragrant oasis in the city attracted nearly 100,000 people in 2004, making the garden one of the top attractions in Omaha. www.omahabotanicalgardens.org

For more information on gardens across Nebraska and to receive a free Nebraska travel packet, call 1-877-NEBRASKA, or visit the Nebraska Travel and Tourism's website at www.VisitNebraska.org

CONTACT:
Mary Ethel Emanuel at 800-228-4307,
402-471-3797, or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it