East Tennessee State University

Arboretum Newsletter

Volume I, Special Arbor Day Issue
April 26, 2002

Aboretum Opens!
New Plantings, New Emphases

ETSU Arboretum Plants New Trees!
More than 70 new trees have been planted on the ETSU Campus this spring, thanks to the work of Kathleen Moore and the ETSU Physical Plant groundskeepers, and the activities of ETSU Arboretum Biologists Frosty Levy and Tim McDowell. These aren't just any trees: over 50 are species or varieties new to our campus lanscape! This wide assortment of new plantings includes many unusual trees, some rarely seen in cultivation. They represent a 30% increase in the number of plant families on campus — a significant gain in taxonomic diversity!

Many remarkable new trees can now be seen around campus. For example, the Chinese Wingnut, a relative of our Black Walnut, planted in the Brown Hall-University High parking lot, has distinctive pinnate liaves, and will grow into a large tree with strings of curious winged seeds. A Flowering Ash, or “Manna Tree,” now grows near Gilbreath Hall, just beside its native relative, the White Ash. You'll find many newly planted conifers: an Atlas Cedar at Dossett Hall, a pendulous Norway Spruce beside Rogers-Stout, and a weeping Golden Himalayan Cedar near Lucille Clement Dormitory, to name a few.

All new trees have been signed with labels fiving name, family, and distribution. A list of these trees appears below, along with the name of the nursery from which they were purchased. We appreciate the quality plant material which these nurseries provide, and recommend them to all of our green friends.

You've doubtless noticed the clear and handsome signs which now stand beside over 150 campus trees. These signs were made for the ETSU Arboretum by Quality Trophies, on 11-E in Joynson City. The sturdy metal sign posts on which they are mounted were made for us by Allied Metals, on Prince Street in Johnson City. We appreciate these businesses for their excellent work.

Special Collections

Oaks (Quercus): 14 species

Dogwoods (Cornus): 8 species

Buckeyes (Aesculus): 7 species

Snowbells (Styracaceae): 5 species

Arboretum Statistics

Number of species/cultivars: 189
Number added in 2002: 57 (30% new)

Number of families: 46
Number added in 2002: 11 (24% new)

 

Sherrod Library Exhibit

To commemorate Arbor Day and the dedication of the ETSU arboretum, Sherrod Library has purchased books related to tree identification, urban forestry, and landscaping. The new books are featured in an exhibit in the Library Lobby.

Newly Purchased Books—ETSU Sherrod Library

1. Berisford, Y.C. 1982. Insect and Disease Problems of Southern Urban Trees: A Guide to the Diagnostic, Descriptive, and Control Literature. American Planning Association.

2. Coukas-Bradley, M. and Alexander, P. 1987. City of Trees: The Complete Field Guide to the Trees of Washington. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore.

3. Coombes, A.J. 1992. DK Handboods: Trees. DK Publishing, Nerherlands.

4. Dirr, M.A. 1998. Manual of Woody Landscape Plants: Their Identification, Ornamental Characteristics, Culture, Propagation and Uses.

5. Dirr, M.A. Dirr’s Hardy Trees and Shrubs: An Illustrated Encyclopedia. Timber Press, Oregon.

6. Gilman, E.E. 1997. Trees in Urban and Suburban Landscapes. 560 pp. Delmar Publishers.

7. Kelly, J. and L. Hillier (eds). 1997. The Hillier Gardener’s Guide to Trees and Shrubs. Reader’s Digest Adult.

8. Lape, F. 1963. A Garden of Trees and Shrubs: Practical Hints for Planning and Planting an Arboretum. Purple Martin Press, Ltd.

9. Li, H-L. 1963. The Origin and Cultivation of Shade and Ornamental Trees. University of Pennsylvania Press, Philadelphia.

10. Plotnik, A. and M.H. Phelan (illustrator). 2000. The Urban Tree Book, An Uncommon Field Guide for City and Town. Crown Publishing Group.

11. symonds, George W.D. and Stephen V. Chelminsky (photographer). 1973. The Tree Identification Book.

A Walk in the Woods

University Woods — the forest across the railroad tracks from Sherrod Library and Culp Center — has many fine old trees: oaks, maples, beeches, yellow buckeyes to name a few. Now over fifteen of these trees are labeled with the familiar ETSU Arboretum signs, giving the name (common and scientific), family, and distribtuion for the species. Anyone interested is invited to take a walk in the woods to see these trees! Begin from the students parking lot just beyond the reairoad tracks at Southwest Avenue (Lot #13, near Sherrod Lobrary), where several species are signed, and walk the wide trail parallel to the tracks. the trail runs about 1/4 mile where it ends at the Baptist Student Center. Along the way you can find the following trees signed:

Thanks for your Support

We thank all our donors for their generous support of the ETSU Arboretum. Your gifts have supported the purchase of dozens of new trees, which now grace our campus (see list below). In addition to many individual donations, Dean Don Johnson of the College of Arts and Sciences has contributed $500 to support our plantings. We gratefully acknowledge the Forestry Division of the Tennessee Department of Agriculture and the USDA for their support of the ETSU Arboretum through an Urban Forestry grant. Thanks also to the Shady Oaks Garden Club for their support of our tour brochures. Tax-deductible gifts to fund new plantings and arboretum enhancement can be sent to the ETSU Arboretum Fund, c/o ETSU Foundation, Box 70721, ETSU, Johnson City TN 37614.

Join the Friends of the ETSU Arboretum

New Trees Planted in 2002