Tag Archives: new england trees

Five Famous New England Trees

Although we often take them for granted, trees are an important fixture of life.  They make our surroundings more beautiful, provide shelter and food for wildlife, and are an important natural resource.  Here in New England, impressive trees are a fact of life.  We love our big, beautiful trees!  They line our streets, shade our yards, color the autumn, and dot our historic town greens.  It’s no wonder that throughout the years, some New England trees have become important historical symbols.  Through their size or their role in events, these trees were woven into the identities of the towns in which they grow.  Unless you live near one of these trees, you may not have heard of them.  We’d like to list five famous New England trees and hope you’ll let us know if you’re familiar with any of them!

1.  The Endicott Pear:  Located on Endicott Street in Danvers, MA, this pear tree is the oldest flowering, fruit bearing tree in the United States.  This impressive tree has been producing pears for over 300 years!

Endicott Pear, image via treehugger.com.

Endicott Pear, image via treehugger.com.

2.  The Survivor:  This elm tree grows in front of Parkhurst Hall in Hanover, NH.  It earned the name The Survivor after enduring through dutch elm disease, the Hurricane of 1938, and road project which severed some of its roots.  The Survivor is as beautiful as it is tough!

The Survivor, image via dartmouth.edu

The Survivor, image via dartmouth.edu

3.  Tree of Independence:   Planted by Willam Whipple in 1776 after signing the Declaration of Independence, this horse chestnut is located on the law of the Moffatt-Ladd Hourse in Portsmouth, NH.

Tree of Independence, image via waymarking.com

Tree of Independence, image via waymarking.com

4.  Sculpture’s Honey Locust:  The largest honey locust in NH, this was planted by noted sculpture Augustus Saint-Gaudins in 1886.

Sculptor's Honey Locust, image via Little Dog Vintage.

Sculptor’s Honey Locust, image via Little Dog Vintage.

5.  Pinchot Sycamore:  The largest tree in Connecticut, the Pinchot Sycamore is 93 feet high with a trunk circumference of over 25 feet.  To see this amazing tree in person, visit Simsbury Center.

Pinchot Sycamore, image via backwoodshome.com

Pinchot Sycamore, image via backwoodshome.com

American Dogwood Tree

The American Dogwood Tree, Cornus Florida

American Dogwood Infographic WTL

The blooming of the American Dogwood tree is a tell-tale sign that spring has arrived.  These trees reach a height of 30 feet at most, and produce white, pink or red bracts with a center of bright yellow flowers.

American Dogwood Tree Westchester Tree Life

Once the heat of summer arrives, these beautiful blossoms give way to light green leaves; during Autumn, the foliage of American Dogwood trees turn a deep red before falling.

Pink American Dogwood Tree WTL

The Benefits of Planting an American Dogwood Tree

  • Visually appealing during all four seasons
  • Full leaves offer shade during the summer
  • A modest-sized tree

American Dogwood Floral Westchester Tree Life

Caring for an American Dogwood Tree

The American Dogwood tree flourishes in partial sun, and prefers nutrient-rich, well-drained soil.

Pink American Dogwood Flowers WTL

Tree Feature: Saucer Magnolia

The Saucer Magnolia, Magnolia soulangeana

MAGNOLIA_SAUCER-ro

As the bleak winter fades away and nature begins to show signs of life again, one of the first trees to flower and bloom is the beautiful Saucer Magnolia. This tree is known in some areas as the Tulip Tree, even though it is part of the Magnolia family. Starting in late March or April, the Saucer Magnolias bud and then bloom their beautiful pink or white flowers. These flowers are known for their big petals and fragrant smell.

saucer-magnolia

Benefits of the Saucer Magnolia:

  • Beautiful Flowers
  • Attract birds and butterflies
  • Hearty enough to withstand long, cold New York winters
  • Provide lots of shade in the summer

Magnolia.soulangeana.sg(Small)

Caring for Your Saucer Magnolia

Saucer Magnolias require minimal maintenance, especially after they’re no longer saplings. Make sure it gets regular water, and prune when needed.

The Sugar Maple

The Sugar Maple, also known as Acer saccharum, is a beautiful addition to any yard!  Sugar Maples are known for their bright, eye-catching foliage during Autumn, especially in New England, and are one of the largest trees in the hardwoods family!

Sugar Maple trees flourish in cool, moist climates, and are able to grow on sands, loamy sands, loams, and silt loams, but does best when planted on well-drained loams!  A loam is defined as a fertile soil of clay and sand containing humus.  Sugar Maple trees tend to do best when placed in an environment with abundant organic matter.

Sugar Maple Forest Westchester Tree Life

Image Courtesy of http://www.nhdfl.org

Why are Sugar Maple trees an ideal choice for your yard?  The Sugar Maple is a tree that continues to grow up to 148 ft., and has wide, dense leaf coverage which offers a great amount of privacy.  Consider planting a string of Sugar Maple trees instead of a fence, when considering privacy options for your residence or business.  The large, looming Sugar Maple tree also offers cover from direct sunlight, and a windbreak, which are factors that play into the cost of your home or business’ heating and cooling bills.

Spring Grove Nursery Westchester Tree Life

Image Courtesy of springgrovenursery.com

The resilient Sugar Maple Tree is a fantastic option when considering what trees to plant on your business or home property!