The Arboretum at Penn State: Joel N. Myers Sundial: view from the southeast ; The Arboretum at Penn State: Joel N. Myers Sundial

view from the southeast ; Penn State Leaders proposed the idea of an Arboretum as early as 1907, but the current iteration dates to a master plan developed between 1996 and 1999 by Sasaki Associates. The Arboretum was intended to provide a site for research as well as nature instruction. Penn State secured 370 acres of undeveloped land, which bordered the University Park campus. Between 2000 and 2002, MTR Landscape Architects LLC further developed the plan for the site. The first phase was completed in fall 2009 after a $10 million by Charles H. “Skip” Smith spurred construction. The designed areas have expanded over time and plans for future development continue. The sculpture is a gnomon following Mean Solar Time. The sculpture is ten feet tall and made of granite. The outer rows mark time on particular days of the year. (Source: https://arboretum.psu.edu/about/our-story/arboretum-time-line/#custom-collapse-0-10, The Arboretum at Penn State, Docent manual https://arboretum.psu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Docent-Manual-2015.pdf) ; Spring view. View of the sundial with the taller marker at left and four rows of pillow-like markers at right. Tulips flower just past a narrow strip of sidewalk with taller shrubs and trees behind.