Last Sunday we were treated to a tour of various trees in Highland Park, New Jersey, led by tree expert Karen Swaine. The tree walk is part of a Highland Park Borough monthly series of walks on topics like architecture, history or nature.
I learned that the red ball on this older post is from a kousa dogwood tree. There is a kousa dogwood on the side of the bank.
Zelkova trees can be found on Raritan Avenue and on side streets in Highland Park.
When viewing the Ginkgo tree, several knowledgeable people in our groups said the female version of the tree stinks. Karen explained tree planters try to plant only male trees, but as in the case with this tree, one can’t easily tell if it’s a male or female when it’s small. The female has edible nut-like seeds, but you have to remove the smelly fleshy coating.
There is a blue atlas cedar tree in front of Congregation Etz Ahaim. I would like to photograph it, but I didn’t have time to do so before I put together this post. It turns out the blue atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica glauca) is native to the Atlas Mountains in Algeria and Morocco. Coincidentally, several of the members of Congregation Etz Ahaim are also from North African countries.
The above English Ivy wrapping around the London planetree is what you don’t want: the ivy should be removed (Karen sent me this note: this particular IVY is English Ivy (Hedera helix) which has roots that dig into wood. Other ivies and vines, like Boston Ivy, Virginia Creeper (native), or even Climbing hydrangea, have roots that “cling” and don’t do damage). Also, I learned that the trees that I labeled as sycamores are really London planetrees, which is a hybrid of the American Sycamore and other species. But I was told a lot of people still call them sycamores, even if they are really a hybrid.
It takes a lot of sap to make a little maple syrup.
For more Nature Notes:
I enjoyed walking along with you in Highland Park, listening to the information on the trees. Your photographs are lovely. I found the information about the female ginko very intriguing.
Several members of our group were rather adamant about the female gingko. Karen said when the fruit falls, if local knowledgeable Asians find out, the fruit is quickly gathered (because they know how to make use of it), and then there’s no stink.
That is not only interesting, but also good for the community in more ways than one.
The trees are all beautiful and the pear looks great on the tree. I love the way fruit looks on trees before it’s picked.
She really didn’t talk at all about the pear tree on our walk.
Interesting post with beautiful pictures
Thank you.
Great shots and lots of information!
Thanks, Karen.
Beautiful series Leora! The link for I Heart Macro is still open if you’d care to share your gorgeous photos:-)
Do any of these count as macros? Maybe the gingko. I posted a salvia on Google+ that probably could be called a macro:
https://plus.google.com/101882809989649733490/posts/8o4HGxG78DZ
What a wonderful event! I had never seen the sourwood tree, and the London plane reminded me of the massive old sycamores on the river bank in front of my childhood home. I still miss those trees.
She said the trees that look like this that grow wild in the forest are true sycamores; the ones that are planted in urban and suburban areas are the London plane trees.
Leora, thanks for sharing your tour and photos. The trees and leaves are all beautiful. I learned some new trees from your post. Have a happy week!
Eileen, you have a good week as well.
The bark of the Blue Atlas cedar tree is so beautiful. Trees are one of my favorite things to take pictures of, especially when the leaves are backlit by the sun.
I really do have to photograph that tree. Maybe next week …
Great shots of the trees in the park. I never knew there were male and female varieties of trees.
Cassi, I found a little article about male and female trees: http://www.ehow.com/facts_7566450_there-male-female-fruit-trees.html
Only female trees have fruit, but sometimes a tree without fruit just means it hasn’t been pollinated.
Hi Leora… Pretty fall photos… I am trying to learn more about trees so that I could identify them…so far I know the ones in my yard…. Michelle
Michelle, nice that you have multiple trees in your yard to identify. I love that you live in such a natural setting.
Oh, this is so interesting. I have to write this down and try to find these trees when I walk. I wish I had known about the Sunday walk. I also can’t believe I didn’t know about the Ruchama King Feuerman talk (I just read Seven Blessings!).
Laura, I’m sorry you didn’t know about Ruchama’s talk as well! If you are in the Highland Park Public Library, ask for Val, and then tell her you would love it if they could host Ruchama again. Her book just came out in paperback, so I hope the library will get a copy.
The list of trees we saw on our walk is now in boro hall, and may be used for a “self-led” tree walk since all the locations are included. Right now (11/6) the color on the Sourwood tree behind the bank is just spectacular! I’m happy that many of you enjoyed our walk, so thanks for the nice feedback. – karen swaine
Karen, I’m honored to have you comment on the post! I’ll have to take a peek at the Sourwood tree. I still keep meaning to photograph the blue atlas cedar in front of Etz Ahaim.