On Arbor Day, members of the University of Iowa campus and greater community came together to plant the seeds of a new campus forest. 

As part of ongoing efforts to support the health and diversity of the UI's tree habitat, a Miyawaki forest was planted on the west side of campus, northeast of Hillcrest Residence Hall and east of Parking Lot 13. The Miyawaki method is a reforestation practice designed to mimic the natural growth process of conventional forests by densely planting native seedlings.

About 4,000 native seedlings were planted from Friday, April 25, to Monday, April 28, making it the second and largest Miyawaki forest in the state. The forest is the result of a collaboration between College of Engineering students, Landscape Services, and the Office of Sustainability and the Environment. 

View this photo gallery by UI photographers Justin Torner and Kirk Murray to see the forest come to life.