Botany was a life-long hobby for Dr. Kirtland. He enjoyed manipulating plants and attempting to make improvements on nature. Ultimately, Dr. Kirtland developed twenty-six varieties of cherry trees. In line with his character, he graciously shared his discoveries with the local farmers who used his innovations to improve their yields for market. As a result, Lakewood became an area with many orchards, vineyards and other crops, providing food for the growing cities.
