By Amanda Mack

diamond in the rough: Something that has hidden exceptional characteristics and/or future potential, but currently lacks the final touches that would make it truly stand out from the crowd. – Urbandictionary.com

A little known city gem, the entrance to the Bismarck Rotary Arboretum is located behind hole number 15 in Tom O’Leary Golf Course at the corner of Ward Road and Divide Avenue. Trail walkers who have circled the golf course hundreds of times may have never noticed the set back entrance.

A peaceful destination, the arboretum features 29 tree varieties with identification markers on ten acres of land according to the Bismarck Rotary website. Little treasures abound including a winding walking trail, a bridge standing over reeded wetlands, a tree and corresponding sign dedicated to a lost nephew, and a picnic table in an overgrown stand of trees.

The arboretum is a joint effort between Bismarck Rotary, Bismarck Parks and Recreation and the Bismarck Forestry Department. According to the Bismarck Rotary website, “In 2007 and 2008, Rotarians and Boy Scouts spent hundreds of hours revitalizing the arboretum. Club funds and a matching grant from the park district provided new plantings, new signs, and material for resurfacing pathways.”

As anyone who tends a garden knows, caring for one can be incredibly time consuming. One can easily imagine then why the 10-acre arboretum’s appearance is less than manicured despite the many volunteer hours that have gone into it over the years.

Walking on the path, it’s easy to imagine stepping off onto a hilltop gazebo on a hot day to take in the view. The idea of showcasing native grasses and native perennials for educational purposes also comes to mind. Although not its current reality, the Bismarck Rotary Arboretum truly is a diamond in the rough that is well worth exploring.