Dendrology of VT/ NH (Kevin Dion) Preview

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Alternate-Leaf Dogwood (Cornus alternifolia)

On this point of interest you will find an Alternate-Leaf Dogwood. Typically you can find these is wetland and riparian zome areas, however they can also be found in the understory of the forest such as this one. This perticular plant was found in the understory of a decidous hardwood stand. I incorperated this species into my tour because it is very important to the enviornmental health of its area.

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Black Walnut (Juglans nigra)

On this point of interest you will find a Black Walnut tree standing high over the side of the road. I originally noticed this tree when I was walking down the road and noticed its crushed nuts from being run over. You will most liekly find this tree where it has been planted around here although there not all planted. Typically you will observe them along field edges, roadsides and residential areas. I incorperated this tree into my tour because it is my favorite tree.

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Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra)

At this point you will find a very large Northern Red Oak. This tree is located on a field edge right next to an old stone wall in the town of Weathersfield, VT. I predict that this used to be an old shade tree for livestock. I incorperated this tree into the tour because it is the biggest Northern Red Oak I've ever seen in my life. In the image there is an herbicide back pack that stand about 2 feet tall for reference.

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Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris)

On this point of interest you will find a pocket of Scots Pine mixed into a mixed decious forest. This tree was alongside an old logging road along with a couple dozen others in the same one acre surrounding. I believe these trees must have been planted as I invetoried the 100 acres around this location and only this small plot had this species growing in it. I incorperated this species into my tour because I really enjoyed how blocky the bark was compared to other more common trees around the area.

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Black Ash (Fraxinus nigra)

On this point of interest you will find a young Black Ash. This tree in a very poorly drained wetland area. This is very typicall for this species as it normally will be found in very wet and swampy enviornments. A good identifying characteristic for these trees is their bark has a very spongy texture to it. I incorperated this species into my tour because it is one of my favorite trees because of its bark texture and its uniqueness of where it grows.

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Norway Spruce (Picea abies)

On this point of interest you will find a group of 3 Norway Spruce trees. They are very large and mature trees that overhang the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park. This species is non-native to the United States, however it is not classified as an invasive species. Since it is non-native, you will most likely find it where it has been planted such as along road sides or in residential areas. I chose to incorperate this species into my tour because I do like thier apearance it reminds me of a Weeping Willow in Spruce form.

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Black Cherry (Prunus serotina)

On this point of interest you will find a Black Cherry Tree. This particular tree is at the edge of a driveway. It is a faily large Black cherry tree. This species is veryy common throughout Vermont and New Hampshire and can grown is many different habitats. You can find it in open woods, field edges, roadsides, etc. It is also a very fast establishing tree and can typically be seen in early successional growth. I incorperated this tree species into my tour because they are a very important tree for wildlife, especially birds who feed on their fruits.

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Bigtooth Aspen (Populus grandidentata)

On this point you will find a group of Bigtooth Apsen trees. This tree species is capable of growing in a wide variety of enviornments, but in general prefer more sandy soil than not. This particular grouping is alongside a roadway near a streambank. Bigtooth Aspen have unique bark that is brown and heavily furrowed at the bottom and becomes smoother and white at the top of the tree. I encorperated this species into the tour because I really love finding large, oldgrowth Bigtooth Aspens becuase I always tend to mistake their bark for a large Northern Red Oak until I look up.

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Striped Maple (Acer pensylvanicum)

On this point of interest you will find a healthy population of Striped Maple along with the pictured one which is faily large for the speices. You can typically find Striped Maples growing in drier, better drained sights in the understory of hardwood stands. This is very relatable to the enviornment I found this one in. I incorperated this species into the tour because it is prefered by moose for forage and not typically sought after by loggers since the wood itself is not profitable. To get to this tree, a good pair of hiking boots will be benefitical. I was doing a thumbs up in this picture becuase 1, I didn't have my dendrology card, and two I figured my herbicide gloves that were in many of my pictures could show it was me.

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Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica)

On this point of interest you will find an overwhelming amount of Japanese Honeysuckle (hopefully much less after we treated the area). This species is very invasive and can really grow anywhere it wants to. It flourishes in canopy openings, however can stay continuous throughout the understory of hardwood or mixed decidious forests. The only time I see this species suffer is under dense conifer forests. I incorperated this species into the tour because it is one that you see in peoples gardens all the time and they have no idea how invasive it truly is. To get to this point, its a simple walk from point 10. This picture was taken on the same day as point 10 where I did not have my dendrology card, however I used my thumbs down as a sign to show it was me (thumbs down because it's a bad plant).

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Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)

On this point of interest you will find a handful of black locust alongside the road near an old farm. You will typically find these trees alongside roads and residential areas where they have been planted. These are non-native as well a invasive. I incorperated this into my tour because this is one of the invasive species that I can see why it was brought to the area. I really like the look of these trees because of how the bark looks, it reminds me of halloween for some reason.

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Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus)

On this point of interest you will find a large amount of Burning Bush on the edge of a recent clear cut. You will find this most of the time near residential areas, however they are extremely invasive and birds can carry their seeds into remote areas. I would like to incorperate this species into my tour because you can see it in everyones garden. Nobody seems to realize how much it can spread before you are exposed to invasive treatment where it spreads like wildlfire.

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Red Maple (Acer rubrum)

On this point of interest you will find two Red Maples standing tall on the edge of a field. Red Maple will grow in various enviornements typically in wet or dry enviornments. I incorperated this tree into the tour because I like how its bark can vary depending on age from very smooth to flaky. They always look like they're in good, healthy shape. I would wear thin pants becuase I found a couple of ticks on me after taking this picture.

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American Beech (Fagus grandifolia)

On this point we circled back around to previous points and this is where we'll finish the tour. This point has an American Beech tree. This particular American Beech is suffering from Beech Bark Disease and is dying from the top down. I included this species into my tour because they are a very important species to wildlife from some eating their nuts and others utilizing the tree itself such as Black Bears.

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Basswood (Tilia americana)

On this point of interest you will find a Basswood tree alongside the yard. You can typically find this tree species in rich upland and mid-slopes in decidious forests. I incorperated this tree in this tour because I always thought it was neat how large the leaves are on this species.

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Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis)

On this point of interest you will find a Eastern Hemlock dividing mine and my neighbors property boundary. You will typically find Eastern Hemlock in moist, cool enviornments. I incorperated this tree into the tour because it is important to wildlife forage and shelter in the winter months.

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American Witch-Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana)

On this point of interest you will find an American Witch-Hazel along with many smaller ones. You will typically find these in forest margins and stream banks. I incorperated this species because I thought the seed dispersal mechanism was quite interesting. When ready, the seeds will explode sending the seeds up to 40 feet from the tree.

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Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus)

On this point of interest you will see a large Eastern White Pine overlooking the dirt road. Eastern White Pine can grow in various enviornments, however it prefers to grow in cool, humid areas with well drained soil. I incorperated this species in the tour because they are very common throughout the Northeast and contribute to small mammal and other wildlife throughout the winter months. It is also a fast growing tree and can grow quickly in early successional forests.

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Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum)

On this last point of the tour you will see the iconic to Vermont and New Hampshire, Sugar Maple. Famously in Vermont the sap of this tree is used to make maple syrup. Sugar Maple typically can be found in drier sandy loams and well drained areas. It is rarely found in swampy areas. I incorperated this tree species because it is very common and saught after in the northeast.