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Black MapleSeptember 24th, 2009 by Tim ParsonsThe leaves are starting to turn on campus, and one of the first species is also one of my favorites. Black Maple, Acer nigrum, is a tree I didn’t even know about before I began working here.  Black Maple Fall Foliage Color It’s hard to beat the bright gold color of this tree-in my mind brighter than any self respecting Sugar or Red Maple. It also turns a little sooner than the other trees around it, like it needs to jump ahead of the pack and show off. Fine by me. Read the rest of this entry » Early Fall Foliage PicturesSeptember 15th, 2009 by Tim ParsonsHere’s some early fall color seen around campus. The smaller trees were all planted last year, and the Katsura is showing some early fall color due to recent excavation nearby. More pictures as things turn. 
Forecasting LeavesSeptember 14th, 2009 by Tim ParsonsMy prediction? Well, I’m thinking the leaves are going to be turning early this fall, and I think the colors will be brighter and more spectacular than usual. Here’s why… Read the rest of this entry » Early FallSeptember 11th, 2009 by Tim Parsons
Fall WebwormSeptember 3rd, 2009 by Tim ParsonsThose disgusting silky web cocoons on branches on the sides of the road you’ve been seeing? Fall Webworm, (Hyphantria cunea (Drury)). I’ve been getting asked about it quite a bit, that’s why I bring it up. They were a random little unidentifiable white moth in May and June, with the females laying their eggs on the undersides of the leaves. The webs form on the tips of the branches, as the caterpillar eats its way down the branch. Many larvae may be seen in one web.Pupation occurs in the ground or in the leaf litter beneath the tree. They are quite prevelant in Crabapples, cherries, Birches, and Lilacs, but I’ve even seen them in Elms along the road. Control? Pesticide? Nah. Being this late in the year, the leaves are beginning their shutdown/fall off routine, aren’t providing much in the way of food for the tree anymore, so if some fall or get eaten prematurally, I don’t sweat it. I’ve always heard an organic control is to take a stick and tear apart the web, exposing the caterpillars to passing birds for a quick take-out meal, but I’ve never seen a bird indulge. Maybe someone (not me) that knows birds could shed some light here. Hornets and WaspsAugust 27th, 2009 by Tim ParsonsSome early leaves are starting to turn on stressed trees, students are trickling back to campus, and it sure was chilly last night. Fall is coming, and we in the landscape department can tell from the gigantic hornet nests appearing seemingly out of nowhere. Read the rest of this entry » Free Press ArticleAugust 16th, 2009 by Tim ParsonsScholar TreeAugust 15th, 2009 by Tim Parsons
Black Eyed SusanAugust 11th, 2009 by Tim Parsons
Surprisingly, nobody has said anything yet. Look all around on campus, in all the new plantings, and you’ll see Black Eyed Susan, Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii ‘Goldsturm’. I’m waiting for the question, What’s with all these Black Eyed Susans anyway? Read the rest of this entry » Black WillowAugust 3rd, 2009 by Tim ParsonsThe Black Willow that fell over by Battell has been written about in Middlebury Magazine. It’s a great article for a lost friend. For pictures of the tree, as well as the first time I wrote about it, check out Art Around Campus. The article that was quoted was My Brief Career as an Art Critic. Then, to end the saga, the replacement tree is written about in Mobile Trees. Enjoy! |
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Starting to feel like fall in the morning, and certain trees are starting to look like fall. Here’s another tree to drop everything to go look at while it is still in full fall color. It’s a Katsura Tree, Cercidiphyllum japonicum. Presumably the leaves smell like cotton candy when they turn and start dropping, but, like those Magic Eye posters, it doesn’t work for me. 
There is a great tree in bloom right now, I suggest dropping everything to go see. It’s the class tree for the class of 1940, planted in front of the Emma Willard House (Admissions). Called a Pagoda Tree, Chinese Scholar Tree, Japanese Pagodatree, the latin name I learned in school was Sophora japonica, but I’ve just learned this has changed to Styphnolobium japonicum. (You’re on your own for pronunciation there) The creamy white flowers are similar to our ubiquitous Black Locust, or to the great Yellowwood. 
