Some Hardy Specimens: The St. Paul's Church Tree Tour

This map serves as a guide for the Tree Tour at St. Paul's Church National Historic Site, in Mt. Vernon, New York.

NPS

Some Hardy Specimens:
The St. Paul’s Church Tree Tour

This is a self-guided tour of the trees at St. Paul’s Church National Historic Site, in Mt. Vernon. New York. It takes approximately 45 minutes to complete. As background, it is interesting to note that during the 18^th century the traditional Village Green here was the center of town life, used for elections, militia drill and animal grazing, and trees would have been removed. In the mid to late 19^th century, cemeteries like St. Paul’s were increasingly viewed as mourning grounds. This shift led to plans for creating a contemplative and tranquil environment, and trees were either planted or permitted to grow. In the contemporary industrial setting of our area, the trees that thrive here are hardy specimens. The map included with this tour will assist in locating the trees.
The tour begins at the Black Locust, next to the museum.

1. Black Locust. Robinia pseudoacacia. Although Black Locust trees are native to the southeastern United States, they have been widely planted and naturalized elsewhere in temperate North America and are considered an invasive species in some areas. It has a thick, deeply burrowed blackish bark and strongly fragrant flowers (similar to orange blossoms) that are white and edible. It is a major honey plant in the eastern United States and when it was planted in France it became the source of the famous acadia monofloral honey. Black Locusts were planted around the museum building (then the parish hall) about a hundred years ago.
2. American Holly. Ilex opaca. One of America’s favorite holiday season plants, the Holly has captivated plant lovers in our country since the 17^th century and it serves as the official tree of Delaware. It features leathery leaves that are 2” – 4” long, maintain their green color year-round, and are sharply tipped on the margins. It has a slow growth speed, in the pyramid shape, but mature height can reach 30 feet. The red berry fruit yields are popular with a variety of birds and small mammals, but unhealthy for human consumption. Holly sprigs are widely appreciated as the ever-lasting symbol of Christmas cheer.
3. Cherry Blossom Tree. Prunus. These are a type of ornamental Cherry Tree, native to Japan, Korea and China. They are a cultural icon in Japan, steeped in history, symbolism and aesthetic appreciation. The delicate pink flowers on these trees bloom in the early spring for about two weeks. The cultivation of ornamental cherry trees began to spread in Europe and the United States in the early 20th century, particularly after Japan presented trees to the United States as a token of friendship in 1912. They have emerged as a favorite and common ornamental tree in the eastern United States. The brief appearance of the lovely flowers, especially in Washington, D.C., have become a popular symbol of the start of spring.
4. American Sycamore. Platanus occidentalis. This is the oldest tree at St. Paul’s, with a method using circumference and a growth factor dating the large tree to about 1800. The American Sycamore is one of the largest hardwood trees in North America. It can grow up to 100 feet tall, with an impressive spread of 40’ to 70’. As such, it is a fine shade tree for farms, acreages or large properties. It produces maple-like leaves and one inch seed balls. These sycamores are tough and sturdy, tolerating extreme weather conditions, pollution, salt and even wet soils. Adaptable and hardy, they have a very long-life expectancy and can live as long as 500 years. Birds and wildlife love this native tree and utilize it for shelter and food. The Sycamore is native to 35 states, including New York.
5. Sourwood. Oxydendrum arboretum. The Sourwood or Sorrel Tree is native to eastern North America. The leaves can be chewed (but should not be swallowed) to help alleviate a dry-feeling mouth. It is renowned for nectar and for the honey that is produced from it. Juice from its blooms is used to make sourwood jelly. The Cherokee and Catawba tribes used its shoots to make arrow shafts. “Sourwood Mountain” is the name of a popular old-time tune in the Appalachian region of the United States.
6. Sweetgum. Liquidambar styraciflua. The American Sweetgum is a deciduous tree native to warm temperate areas of eastern North America and tropical regions of Mexico and central America. A popular ornamental tree in temperate climates, it is recognizable by the combination of its five-pointed star shape leaves and its hard, spiked fruits; popularly nicknamed “gum balls”. The rich, dark green glossy leaves generally turn brilliant orange, red and purpose colors in autumn. Trees may live to 400 years.
7. Paperbark Maple. Acer griseum. This type of maple is native to central China but was introduced to cultivation in Europe in 1901. It is a small to medium-sized deciduous tree whose bark is smooth, shiny, orange red, peeling in thin, papery layers (hence its name). It is admired for its decorative exfoliating bark, translucent pieces of which often stay attached o the branches until worn away. It also has a spectacular autumn foliage, which can include red, orange and pink tones.
8. Sycamore Maple. Acer pseudoplatanus. This type of maple is highly tolerant of wind, urban pollution and salt spray, so it is a very popular tree for planting in cities and in coastal locations. Commonly grown in New England, the New York City area and the Pacific Northwest, it is also planted for timber production, particularly for furniture, wood flooring and parquetry. It is a traditional wood for use in the backs, necks and scrolls of violins, but is sometimes considered an environmental weed in parts of the United States.
9. Northern Red Oak. Quercus rubra. The Northern Red Oak is native to North America and is also the state tree of New Jersey. It is one of the most important oaks for timber production in North America. Popular in the construction industry, it is used for flooring, veneer, interior trim and furniture. It is also used for lumber, railroad ties and fence posts.
10. Pin Oak. Quercus palustris. The Pink Oak tree is native to North America, mainly in the eastern United States, and is one of the most popular ornamental trees in the country. The acorn from a Pin Oak is unpalatable because the kernel is very bitter. Native American tribes used the bark to make a drink for treatment of intestinal pain. Its name was most likely derived from a historical use of the hard wood for pins in wooden building construction.
11. Pine Grove. Pinus. Pine trees are evergreen, coniferous resinous trees with thick and scaly bark. Because Pines have no insect or decay resistance qualities after logging, they are generally recommended for construction purposes as indoor use only (ex., indoor drywall framing). It is commonly referred by several different names that includer North American timber, SPF (spruce, pine fir) and whitewood.
12. Weeping Willow. Solix babylonica. Native to dry area of north China, the Weeping Willow spread elsewhere in Asia as it was traded along the Silk Road to southeast Asia and Europe. Although it grows rapidly, it has a short lifespan of 40 to 75 years. It was also common practice in ancient Greece to place Willow branches on the coffins of the dead and then plant young saplings on the graves in the belief that the spirit of the dead would rise through the trees. The Weeping Willow is a common symbol of grief and mourning found on many gravestones in cemeteries, including the St. Paul’s burial yard.
13. Hawthorn Trees. Crategus. The Hawthorn tree is native to the temperate regions of North America. The wood of some Hawthorn species is very hard and resistant to rot. In rural North America it was prized for use as tool handles and fence posts. Hawthorns provide food and shelter for many species of birds and mammals, and the flowers are important for many nectar-feeding insects. St. Paul’s has sister Hawthorn Trees located across the path from each other.
14. Norway Spruce. Picea abies. Native to Europe, the Norway Spruce is a familiar sight across much of our continent. The pyramidal tree is the fastest growing of the Spruce trees, reaching a mature height of 40’ -60’. It features strong graceful branches, with dark green needles. It supports a wide variety of wildlife, small birds and mammals. The Norway Spruce has a dense branching pattern and tolerance of soil variations make it a popular tree for windbreaks. It has the largest cones of any spruce tree and can live hundreds of years. Norway Spruces are the most popular evergreen trees used as the feature Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center in Manhattan.
15. White Ash. Faxinus americana. This tall White Ash tree has been dated to about 1840. The White Ash is a majestic deciduous shade tree with dark green pinnate leaves, silvery-brown bark, and clusters of small greenish or purple flowers. The large, branching tree is identified by its irregular pyramidal or rounded crown, dense foliage, and stunning red fall colors. The bark develops deep furrowing as the tree matures. An identifying trait of the bark is the distinct diamond pattern or net-like structure and pointed ridges covering the straight central trunk. The tree often lines streets because it is easy to grow and tolerates challenging urban conditions. Leaves on the white ash tree are identified as pinnately compound, with each leaf typically comprising of seven leaflets. The robust and white-colored hardwood is used to make baseball bats, tool handles, oars, hockey sticks, furniture, and flooring. White Ash trees grow to a maximum height of 60’ – 80’ and can last more than 200 years. Unfortunately, in the past 20 years or so, Ash Trees have been compromised and sometimes felled by a tiny insect called the emerald ash borer.
16. White Flowering Dogwood. Cornus florida. The Flowering Dogwood is a small deciduous tree that is an important food source for dozens of species of birds, which then distribute the seeds. It was used to treat dogs with mange, which may be how it got its name. In 2012, the United States sent 3,000 Dogwood saplings to Japan to commemorate the 100^th anniversary of Japan’s gift of 100 Cherry Blossom trees to Washington, D.C. in 1912.