Arbor Day Celebrations to Look Forward To

 

“Arbor Day is not like other holidays. Each of those reposes on the past,
while Arbor Day proposes for the future.”

– J. Sterling Morton

 

The Facilities Services staff potting bare root trees in preparation of the future ceremony.
Photo by Ruby Wallau/Northeastern University

 

On April 10th, 1872, a day was set aside for planting and calling attention to trees.  To continue the tradition, Northeastern is observing this special day and appreciating all the plants on campus, with our second annual Arbor Day Celebration.  Though we are all celebrating from a distance, We are planning a future event that will include an Arboretum tour, a community tree planting, and a tree giveaway in a reusable produce bag with a choice of four different species of trees.

 

Learn about each species we are giving away, and come back soon for more details on the postponed event!

 

American Redbud, Cercis canadensis

Rosy pink flowers appear in late April to early May. Emerging leave are reddish-purple, Summer leaves change to dark green, then to yellow Fall color. At maturity, tree forms a rounded crown. Grows best in full sun or light shade. Grows to 20′ to 30′, 30′ spread. Redbud is native to eastern and central North America from Connecticut to New York to southern Ontario and the Great Lakes south to Western Texas and Florida.

 

Downy Serviceberry, Amelanchier arborea

Downy Serviceberry, is an early-flowering, large shrub or small tree which typically grows 15-25′ tall. A Massachusetts native that occurs most often in open rocky woods and wooded slopes. Flowers are white and showy in drooping clusters, which appear before the leaves emerge in early spring. The edible berries ripen by early summer resembling blueberries in size and color. A great bird attracting native tree. Downy Serviceberry has beautiful fall color of orange, red, and gold.

 

Colorado Blue Spruce, Picea pungens

A broad, dense, pyramidal tree with stiff branches horizontal to the ground. Native to western states. Makes a choice specimen tree or screen. Colorado Blue Spruce needs plenty of space, growing up to 50 feet high and a width up to 25 feet. Grow in full sun. Seedling grown plants vary in color from shades of blue to green. Give this tree plenty of room.

 

White Dogwood, Cornus florida

An excellent landscape choice for all four seasons. White “flowers” emerge in mid-May. Fall foliage turns vibrant shades of red. Red fruits attract winter songbirds. Horizontal branching makes a great architectural statement. Beautiful flowers, brilliant fall color, attractive fruit and horizontal branching makes for a small to medium size tree with four seasons of ornamental value. Good understory tree that grows 15 to 20 feet tall. White Flowering Dogwood is a native to Massachusetts.