The Rural Voice, 2000-02, Page 35are: tulip tree (Liriodendron
tuliperfera); cucumber (Magnolia
acuminata); Kentucky coffee tree
(Gymnocladus dioicus); redbud
(Cercis canadensis); pignut hickory
(Carya glabra); hop -tree (Ptelea
trifoliata); sycamore (Plantanus
occidentalis); sassafras (Sassafras
albidum); flowering dogwood
(cornus florida); beech (fagus
grandifolia); sugar maple (Acer
saccharum); black walnut (Juglans
nigra); shagbark hickory (Carya
ovata); black oak (Quercus velutina);
hornbeam or ironwood (Carpinus
caroliniana); black maple (Acer
nigrum); silver maple (Acer
saccharinum); red maple (Acer
rubrum).
We have successfully added the
eastern redbud and sycamore to our
yard and they are a real pleasure.
Before the leaves break out in the
spring, clusters of raspberry -pink,
pea -like flowers bloom along the
branches of the redbud. Its leaves are
large heart -shaped. A vigorous
slender tree, it was snapped in half
during the dreadful cyclone that hit
Goderich area four years ago.
Undaunted, it sprouted branches
from below the snap. I have a bit of
judicial pruning to do this year to
shape it a bit as it has sent up an
abundance of branches.
The sycamore is only ten feet
right now and promises to be a
massive tree with an open crown that
will reach a mature height of 90 to
100 feet. Its leaves are reminiscent of
the sugar maple. But its trunk is the
main feature. Mature trees have a
mottled brown bark that flakes off
exposing the paler creamy grey
coloured inner bark. It also has a
neat ball -like fruit hanging at the end
of a long stem. It is made up of
small elongated seeds with long stiff
hairs. They stay on the tree like
decorations and in the spring drift
apart. I have faith in the sycamore's
hardiness during the occasional deep
cold snap. There are some
sycamores growing in Ottawa. There
are seven species of sycamore or
Platanu family. Of these, three are
Gardening
native to the United Sates, one to
Canada and the others are found in
Mexico, southeastern Europe and
India.
The next zone that dominates our
area is that of the Great Lakes -St.
Lawrence Forest Region. You will
recognize these: eastern white pine
(Pinus strobus); red pine (pinus
resinosa); eastern hemlock (Tsuga
canadensis); balsam fir (Abies
balsamea); eastern white cedar
(Thuga occidentalis); yellow birch
(Betula alleghaniensis); American
mountain ash (Sorbus americana);
sugar maple (Acer Saccharum);
striped maple (Acer pensylvanicum);
white ash (Fraxinus americana).
The last zone is that of the Boreal
Forest Region: that band of
evergreen that breaks the monotony
of stone as you travel from one end
of this country to another — a carpet
of spruce, balsam fir, tamarack and
jack pine.
In order for your tree selection to
prosper take a hard look at the trees
already in your area. Take a drive or,
better yet, a walk around the block.
Check out the local nursery and pick
their brains about the trees that will
do well here. I know I have my heart
set on a shag bark hickory next.
Planting your tree is of course the
next place to take care once you have
made your selection. In general late
fall after the leaves have fallen or
early spring before the leaves have
sprouted are the best times to plant
your tree. Their system is dormant
and better able to withstand the
jarring move.
Make your hole three to five times
bigger than the root ball or container.
You can backfill with a mixture of
soil and compost. This makes a tasty
spot for those new roots. If you need
any amendments like clay or lime
this would be a good time to mix it
into your backfill. If your tree is bare
root, don't let the roots dry out, cover
them with wet burlap or pop it into a
pail of water. If container grown,
then soak it well before planting to
help keep the root ball and soil
together. The first year is crucial.
You don't want to let the tree get
stressed out looking for water.
Water well the first few days and
then once a week for the first
growing season. Fertilizing would
promote more leaves at the expense
of strong roots, so leave off with the
fertilizer. There is almost always a
bit of pruning of dead or broken
branches and depending on the size
of the tree you may want to stake it.
I will leave you with a wonderful
thoughtful quote from R. Neil
Sampson, in Shading our Cities:
"Where trees are ill -kept, dying or
diminishing, we often find a
community that feels run down,
although trees are seldom recognized
as either part of the cause or a
symptom of the community's woes.
But the truth stands clear — trees
symbolize permanence and stability.
Where they thrive, a community feels
good about itself..."0
Rhea Hamilton -Seeger and her
husband raise two children at their
home near Auburn. She is a skilled
cook and gardener.
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