The arboretum is home to 26 noteworthy, mature trees known as "champions" for being the largest or best representation of their species, including a national champion September elm tree and an Ohio champion American yellowwood.

At the end, yellowwood trees turn brilliant in fall, and a legacy fir forest towers in the background.

Not only does the village have some of the nation’s oldest and largest oak and yellowwood trees, but the trees also hide the large homes that would be difficult to see outside the winter months.

The high conservation value designation means management now will be driven by the yellowwood trees, said Allen Pursell, director of forest conservation for Indiana with The Nature Conservancy.

The sterling tree of the moment is the yellowwood, a medium-size shade tree with beechlike gray bark, a pleasing symmetric outline and panicles of delicate but showy white flowers that announce its leguminous clan.