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Skip Section Navigation Arboretum Newsletter Fall 2007 Home Winter and Spring Tree Workshops Arbor Day Program with Clinton Elementary School Summer Series in the Glen Fall Plant Appreciation Days
Contact Information
Terry Hawkridge

315-859-4075
315-859-4407 (fax)

From the Director's Desk:

As the Science Center landscape comes to a close, there is one last planting. Where once stood on Campus Road a single family residence east of the Science Center is now a grassed lot being planted into "The Science Glade". A background of 10 Heritage River Birch will showcase 8 different varieties of Red Maples. The diversity will be seen in their habit of growth from columnar to broadly round, some will be taller and some will be wider. These Red Maples will each have a different foliage color in the yellow-orange-red spectrums and they will peak at different times in the fall. Tables and benches will be added to the Glade as a new outdoor area takes shape.

So like last year's Martin's Way planting which featuring 5 different Sugar Maples varieties, 3 different Red Maples varieties and 3 different Oak species, Hamilton's Arboretum plantings will continue to expand and display diversity. The South Campus expansion of Kirner-Johnson has relocated the main road circling the campus. This project has opened up many planting opportunities for new trees and shrubs for the next two years. The Arts project is soon to follow.

While we think of where we started and how we wish to expand our collection, other factors are at work. This year was extremely dry as rain never made it to the Mohawk Valley. Drought has stressed our large trees and none more the Sugar Maples, which seem to be reacting negatively to climate change. On top of the drought was a mass invasion of Forest Tent Caterpillars, which targets the Maples and Oaks. We were ready for these defoliators this year and injected most campus trees with a product that killer the caterpillars but left no toxic residual on the campus grounds.

Our stewardship of Hamilton's trees is far greater than expanding a collection. We evaluate our trees and prune to maintain their health and the safety of the community living below them. We appreciate their cooling shade but stay vigilant to evaluate and react to their pests. The Sirax Woodwasp has made it into Oswego this year and this pest kills 80% of the evergreen trees it inhabits. Emerald Ash Borer, a devastating Killer of native White & Green Ash, has jumped from Michigan through Ohio to the Pittsburg, PA. area in two years. The Asian Longhorned Beetle, which makes a 3/8 – ½" diameter hole in trees has been quarantined on Long Island. Hemlock Wooly Adelgid is not far to our South in New York and our East in Massachusetts.
These insect pests are not native and have no natural preditors.

There again, what a nice day it is and the columnar Ginkgos 'Princeton Sentry look spectacular in the afternoon sun in front of the Alumni Center. This campus will be on fire when the Red & Sugar Maples reach peak foliage in a few weeks, just in time for Family Weekend.

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Arboretum Slideshows


Fall Foliage Tree Tour