New list details best university arboretums and gardens

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Best Masters Programs, an independent online guide to master's degree programs, has published a list of the fifty most stunning university arboretums and gardens. The list can be viewed at http://www.bestmastersprograms.org/most-stunning-university-arboretums-and-gardens/.

The list aims to be the most comprehensive of its kind and includes universities from Austria, Canada, Denmark, England, Germany, Italy, Japan, France, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States that emphasize conservation, sustainability and education within their greenhouses, landscapes and nature preserves.

Gardens and arboretums considered for the list were identified using information from The Morton Register of Arboreta, Botanic Gardens Conservation International, the American Horticultural Society and other public data sources. Evaluations were made based on garden size, variety of plant species, special accreditations and unique attributes that contribute to the garden's or arboretum's atmosphere, among other things.
Some of the highlights of the list include the ten thousand square foot Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum at University of Michigan, the largest display greenhouse at a U.S. university, and the ancient Koishikawa Botanical Gardens at the University of Tokyo, which has roots going all the way back to 1684.

The following universities have gardens or arboretums on the list:

Auburn University
Bonn University
Cambridge University
Clemson University
Connecticut College
Cornell University
Duke University
Harvard University
Memorial University of Newfoundland
Mississippi State University
North Carolina State University
Smith College
Stellenbosch University
Swarthmore College
University of Alaska Fairbanks
University of Arizona
University of Bristol
University of British Colombia
University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Davis
University of Central Florida
University of Chicago
University of Coimbra
University of Copenhagen
University of Denver
University of Georgia
University of Hawaii
University of Idaho
University of Illinois
University of Leicester
University of Michigan
University of Naples Federico II
University of North Carolina, Charlotte
University of Oxford
University of Pennsylvania
University of Rhode Island
University of South Florida
University of Strasbourg
University of Tennessee
University of Tokyo
University of Uppsala
University of Utah
University of Valencia
University of Vienna
University of Virginia
University of Washington
University of Wisconsin-Madison
University of Zurich
Wellesley College
Yale University

According to Kayla Berkey, lead editor for the piece, the university green space can be an important factor for people with an interest in environmental studies and for anyone who appreciates using outdoor space for studying and recreation. "With increasing societal interest in environmental preservation and sustainability, the hands-on research gardens and arboretums included in this list can be a valuable asset for people planning to study these fields. Additionally, this ranking provides a creative resource for all people who want to learn more about the universities that create stunning landscapes for students and visitors to enjoy," said Berkey.
Best Masters Programs is an independent online guide to finding the best traditional and online master's degree programs. The site offers rankings and reviews of top master's programs in all of the most popular fields, career and salary information for the most in-demand jobs, and much more.