River Birch
River Birch (Betula nigra) is a small to medium sized tree. River Birches are distinct, because they often have multiple trunks, and are easily identified by their papery, peeling bark. These trees are often planted by landscapers and also grow well in wetlands. This tree is native, meaning that it naturally grows wild here. This tree is included in the tour, because many grow in the area, and they are popular for landscaping.This tree can be found next to a gate at a trail, near several large rocks and the Spring Lake parking lot. This tree is also located next to an information kiosk. On a side note, a trail map is located on the front of the kiosk, so it may be helpful to take a picture of it if you are not familar with the trails in the park. There is also a display case on the back for advertising park events. I installed this display case as part of my Eagle Scout Project.
Tuliptree
Tuliptrees (Liriodendron tulipfera) are one of the largest trees in the area. They were chosen for this tour for several reasons. First, they have distinct, tulip-shaped leaves and pretty flowers that resemble tulips. They are also very abundant in many locations in the park.This tree can be found next to the trail along Spring Lake. It was planted in a berm years ago, and is directly next to the trail. This tree is quite small for the area, as most Tuliptrees in the park are at least 2 feet in diameter and well over 50 feet in height. Tuliptrees have very straight trunks.
Red Maple
Red Maple (Acer rubrum) is a medium sized tree. It lives in many places across the US, encompassing a wide range of habitats. It is often planted as an ornamental. Many parts of the tree are red or have a reddish tinge, including the seeds, young leaves and twigs. Fall leaves of many individuals, including this tree, are often a striking red color. This tree is native.This tree, and several others, are included along the trail at Spring Lake. If the lake is on your left, this tree will be on your right. It was planted years ago in a small berm along the trail, and can be spotted directly from the trail. This tree was included in the tour, because it is very prevalent in the area, and this individual bears striking red colors in fall, making it easy to spot from all the way across the lake.
Weeping Willow
Weeping Willow (Salix babylonica) is a small or medium sized tree. These trees were included in the tour, because several of them were planted all along the trail at Spring Lake, next to the edge of the water. They have a distinct weeping appearance, where their branches and leaves droop downward. These trees are exotic, meaning that they do not naturally grow here, but have not caused severe disruption to the ecosystem.One of these trees fell into the lake several years ago, and is still growing. Turtles like to climb onto its branches to sun themselves.Wire mesh was placed around the trunks of these trees to prevent beavers from felling them
Sweetgum
Sweetgum (Liquidambar styrafica) is a medium or large sized tree. This tree is part of the tour, because they grow wild in many parts of the park, and because of their distinct spiky seed pods. This tree grows in the berm. There is an opening in the berm, that leads to the trail running on the opposite side of it. Walk through this opening, and the tree will be on your immediate left in the corner of the berm.
Callery Pear
Callery Pear (Pyrus calleryana) is a small sized tree. They are often planted as landscaping plants, and orginally grew in Asia. This tree was included, because it is an invasive species. This means that it does not naturally grow here, and is now disrupting the ecosystem. It is emerging in the area, meaning that it has just appeared in the park recently. These trees produce many small berry-like fruits.This tree is quite small, and has grown wild along the trail on the Spring Lake side of the berm. It is located towards a corner of the lake, near a small foot bridge.
Silver Maple
Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum) is a medium sized tree. They are fast growing, and their leaves have deeper lobes than most maples. They are not commonly planted in urban areas, because they have brittle wood, which results in many broken branches. Silver Maple was chosen for this tour, because Silver Maples are native and are relatively common in the area. This tree often grows in wet areas, so it is abundant in the park. This specimen can be found on the shore of Spring Lake, and is clearly visible from the trail around the lake.
Autumn Olive
Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata) is a shrub or small tree. Autumn Olive has green leaves, with silvery undersides. This shrub is part of the tour, because it is an invasive species, and is displacing many native species. In addition, it has pretty red berries, which grow in late summer and early fall.Autumn Olive can be found growing along forest edges in the park and is common around Spring Lake. It is an understory species in this spot, growing underneath many other trees. In the picture, these trees are leafless, and the Autumn Olives have all their leaves. In this spot, it can be found off of the trail, away from the lake.
Pin Oak
Pin Oak (Quercus palustris) is medium or large tree. It was chosen for the tour, because it is common in park and the surrounding area. It is native, grows wild in the park, and is often planted in streets and parks in our area. It is well adapted to wet areas, such as swamps and riverbanks. It is also one of the most common oaks in our state.This tree grows in a fork in the trail. There is a small clearing where three paths converge. This tree is in the center of that clearing.
Sugar Maple
Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) is a medium or large tree. While it is not the most abundant tree in the park, this species was included in this tour for several reasons. First, it has beautiful fall color, often turning scarlet, gold or orange. It is one of the most popular trees in the eastern US for fall foliage. Second, it is the source of maple syrup. Sugar Maples is not very common in forests in our area, but is native. Is it planted by landscapers, but is not as common as Red Maple. It typically grows in wetter areas.Almost every Sugar Maple in the park grows along this portion of the trail, on the hillside. Red Maple (Acer rubrum), Sugar Maple and Norway Maple (A. platanoides) all grow in the park, and can be difficult to identify. Of these three, Sugar Maple is the least common in the park and Norway Maple is the only one not in this tour, and the only invasive one. Norway Maple leaves are typically wider than long and have shallow lobes. Norway Maple leaves have 5 (sometimes 7) lobes with small points at the ends. Sugar Maple leaves have the deepest lobes and the lobes extend into long points. Sugar Maple leaves have 5 lobes. Red Maple leaves typically have 3 lobes, sometimes have 5 lobes with extra two appearing to be just serrations on the leaf margin.
American Beech
American Beech (Fagus grandifolia) is a medium sized tree. This tree is included in the tour because it is prevalent in the area and very easy to identify. It has thin, light gray bark, which scars easily. The leaves also turn golden brown in fall, and many remain on the trees all winter. The sound of the wind rustling through these leaves in the winter is unique and quite strange. The buds of these trees are also unique, as they are torpedo shaped and look almost like thorns. American Beech are native.These trees can be found on the hillside along this trail, and are very easy to spot. They can also be found on several other hillsides in the park.
White Oak
White Oak (Quercus alba) is a medium sized tree. White Oaks are included in this tour, because they are a common, easily identifed oak, and because their acorns are an important food source for animals. They have leaves with rounded lobes, which are green on the top and white underneath. White Oaks are native.They can be found in various locations in the park, which range from wet to dry places. This tree is growing next to the trail, very close to water. If you wish to get close to it, please be careful to not fall in the water or mud.
White Mulberry
White Mulberry (Morus alba) is a small deciduous tree. This tree was chosen for the project, because it shows how trees can survive injury. The top of this tree was destroyed or cut off years ago and this tree continues to live on. In fact, the majority of the trunk is visible in the picture showing the leaves. This tree is exotic, and was introduced to the US in a failed attempt to grow silkworms.White Mulberry typically grows in forest edges. It can be found along the edges of trails in the park. This one is located next to a metal gate and several large rocks.
Southern Catalpa
Southern Catalpa (Catalpa bignonioides) is a small tree. Southern Catalpa is included in this tour, because of its striking leaves. Its leaves can be over 12 inches long, and are heart shaped. Southern Catalpa is exotic. They also have unique seed pods, which resemble those of string beans, and are over 10 inches long.In the park, Southern Catalpa can be found along forest edges. This spot is best for viewing them, and several can be found on next to a trailhead coming off of the stone driveway down the hill. They grow right alongside the trail.
American Sycamore
American Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) is a large tree. This tree was included in the tour, because of its huge size. Many Sycamores in the park have attained large sizes, and this is one of the largest. It has mottled bark, similar to camouflage, and the leaves can attain large sizes. This tree is native.These trees often grow in lowlands or floodplains. These trees can be found in several locations in the park, but several of the largest are close to the road down the hill, near this tree. Please be careful when viewing this, as you are standing on a roadLondon Planetree (Platanus x acerfolia) is easily confused with American Sycamore. Both of which are common in NJ. London Planetree is a hybrid between American Sycamore and Oriental Planetree (P. orientalis). The bark of London Planetree is often more yellow, while American Sycamore can have white inner bark on some limbs. London Planetree leaves also have deeper margins, and their fruits hang in groups of 2-3 from one stem. American Sycamore fruits hang individually from one stem.
Black Locust
Black Locust (Robinia psuedoacacia) is a medium sized tree. They are part of this tour, because they are common in several places in the park. The bark has large ridges, and the leaves have many smaller leaflets (smaller leaves attached to one stem, which form one big leaf). Some of these trees are used by deer to rub their antlers. This tree is exotic.In the park, Black Locust grows near the parking lot, as well as on hillsides. The trees at this spot grow between the parking lot and the gravel road.
Eastern Hemlock
Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) is a medium sized coniferous tree. It is part of the tour, because it is one of the only conifers in the park. They are typically pretty trees, with short green needles and tiny cones. However, many Hemlocks have been infected with Hemlock Woolly Adelgid, which is an invasive pest. This has killed off many of them throughout their range. These Hemlocks here are infected. HWA resembles small white dots on the needles. Fortunately, the entire species in not at risk of extinction, because Hemlocks live in places too cold for HWA to survive, such as Maine and southern Canada. These trees are native, and are the state tree of Pennsylvania.These trees are near a picnic table and a garden next to the parking lot. These trees have a scraggly appearance, as their lower branches have died off.Side note:The Watson House is standing towards the woods here, far away from the parking lot. It is part of the park and is the oldest house in Mercer County.
Eastern White Pine
Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus) is a large coniferous evergreen tree. Eastern White Pine was chosen for the tour, because it is a conifer, and it is the tallest tree on the east coast, capable of growing to 150 feet in height and 5 feet in diameter. (Sadly none of the trees here are that large). These trees have long green needles in bundles of 5. These trees are native, and are the state tree of Maine.They ooze huge gobs of incedibly sticky sap through wounds in the tree, so I recommend being careful when near them. The sap can get on skin or clothes that touch the trunk, or on shoes that walk under the tree.Several of these trees are planted in a row here along the power line right-of-way.
American Holly
American Holly (Ilex opaca) is an evergreen shrub or small tree. It is on the tour, because it is a pretty plant that is easy to identify. It has hard green leaves, with small thorns on them. It also has red berries. It is commonly assosciated with Christmas. These are native.Many American Hollies live in the park, but these are the largest. Smaller ones can be found growing next to trails in moist areas that are not very wet. These can be found growing near the power line right-of-way.
Japanese Maple
Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum) is small tree. This tree was included in the tour, because Japanese Maples are commonly used as landscaping plants. Because they are cultivated, Japanese Maples often have a veriety of leaf shapes and leaves can be maroon to green in color.Look for this tree out front of the Tulpehaking Nature Center, next to Wescott Ave.
