Located on 48 acres in southern Menard County, IL, Starhill Forest
is a private arboretum owned and operated by the Sternberg family
since 1976. The land has been farmed and grazed since the mid-19th
century, when Abraham Lincoln traveled on the same road during his
New Salem days.
Old trees in the forested areas date to about 1850, and the
oldest planted trees were started from seed in 1964 and
transplanted from another location. Permanent records kept by
Starhill Forest include provenance information, propagation method
and year, mapped location within the arboretum via a surveyed grid
system, and other data. In addition, permanent records of other
taxa that have been tested and have not survived include cause of
death, when known.
The primary scientific collection is a quercetum (oak)
comprising the living reference collection recognized by the North
American Plant Preservation Council. Additionally, approximately
150 other genera of woody plants are available for study, as well
as herb and perennial landscapes, a native prairie garden, several
provenance tests, and a conifer plantation.
Central Illinois Geocaching
Association