I saw something that was pretty interesting to me the other day.. As Autumn approaches we’ll start to see leaves changing colors and began falling from the trees.
Walking by Hugel this past week I saw something that got me thinking. One of the trees had already lost all it’s leaves.
The tree, which I believe to be a Little Leaf Linden (Tilia Cordata) is apparently dying and creating a sad sight along the walk to class in front of Hugel.
I looked up the school’s planning site and found a list which boasts almost 90 different species of trees on campus. The list, which was compiled in 2011, included a brief history of the College’s Arboretum. Beginning in 1840, it used to be tradition for the graduating class to plant a tree at commencement however not formally organized un
til many years later. About 120 years later, the college made it an initiative to beautify the campus grounds and began to assemble the collection we have today. So while it might be too late for this young Little Leaf Linden, next time you’re walking across campus try to take a moment to appreciate the ecological diversity we have on our hill.
They are all just “trees”. I jest of course. They are not only different species of trees they are individuals (specimens), living in individual microclimates around buildings, sidewalks, etc. I imagine that makes some difference in how they shut down photosynthesis this time of year and which ones look most aesthetically pleasing to us…