ARBORETUM & DAFFODILS
The trees in the Glen Leven Farm arboretum stand taller than many in Nashville and tell stories of the place. In 2012, The Nashville Tree Foundation designated Glen Leven Farm as an arboretum. Glen Leven has over 25 different species of trees and shrubs that are labeled for public enjoyment and education. The arboretum includes the largest mass of American Yellowwood in the United States, a White Ash, a Basswood, an American Beech, a Dogwood, a Ginkgo, a Black Walnut, a Sugar Maple, a Chinkapin Oak, a Laurel Oak, a Pecan, a Hedge Maple, and a Trifoliate Orange tree, all of which are past winners of the Nashville Tree Foundation’s Big Old Tree Contest.
There are also at least 16 different varieties of heirloom daffodils growing on property. In 1837, John Thompson ordered a variety of bulbs from Holland for his two daughters, Mary and Margaret, who were suffering from tuberculosis. Their doctor had recommended that they spend time outdoors in the fresh air, and John thought cultivating flowers would bring them great pleasure. The 1837 order included 12 Narcissus Jonquilla Simplex bulbs. This diminutive flower with an intense scent still blooms at Glen Leven Farm every spring.