Kathleen Groll Connolly, Landscape & Garden Designer, Speaker, Writer
I was researching the history of a centennial elm on Old Saybrook's Main Street when an acquaintance suggested I pick up a copy of "Urban Forests: A Natural History of Trees in the American Cityscapes by Jill Jonnes. To learn why I'm glad I did, please read on . . .
Fast moving and not overly technical, the tale of "Witness Tree" takes us down the path of bio-geographic research, particularly as it pertains to trees. Long-lived as they are, today's trees are likely to encounter unprecedented conditions as they age. The story takes place at Harvard Forest in Petersham, MA, one of the most studied forests in the world. Much of the institution's historical research is at the center of today's inquiries into climate futures and, of course, the future of the world's vegetation. Researchers from multiple disciplines bring their specialties there, including some top-level canopy research by highly skilled tree-climbers.
No, it's not about taking a bath in the woods or running the trails wearing only a smile. But according to dedicated practitioners, this increasingly popular practice will put a smile on your face. Curious? Link above.
Seize the day and seize the pruning saw. It's late winter and time to prune (most) trees and shrubs. The list of exclusions is pretty short, so here goes:
Make no mistake: Trees live in harm's way. Whether it's emerald ash borer, Asian longhorned beetle, gall wasps, winter moths or Phytopthera blight--a tree has to survive a lot of threats to grow to maturity and thrive.
The soft paws of pussy willow, a small native tree, go hand in hand with late February in the southern New England town where I live. But apparently we'll have to stick to town and city streets to find Salix discolor (its other name), because in a number of places, they are considered almost gone from the wild landscape.
They are not alone. For more examples, think balsam fir (Abies balsamea), eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis), inkberry (Ilex glabra), fragrant sumac (Rhus aromatica), sweet gum tree, (Liquidambar styraciflua).
With plenty of winter and two hurricanes behind us in southern New England, our trees are much the worse for wear. Here are some thoughts on how to manage storm-ravaged trees in the coming months from my recent article in the New London Day/Zip06.
