Seminar #92 from Online Seminars for Municipal Arborists
October - December 2021
Sections Go directly to the section by clicking on the title below
October - December 2021
Sections Go directly to the section by clicking on the title below
Note: Click on green text in each section for more information and photos.
Camden, a Borough of London
Edited by Len Phillips
Camden is a 8.4 sq.mi. (5,376 acres) borough just north of the center of London, England. The borough has just completed an evaluation of their tree management program and concluded that Camden’s municipal trees are generally appreciated by the residents. The woodlands, shrubs, hedges, open grass and wetlands are collectively known as Camden’s urban forest. This urban forest improves the air quality, protects watercourses, saves energy, and improves the health and economic sustainability of the borough's residents.
According to the Camden i-Tree Inventory Report, the total number of trees in Camden is 25,890 and their canopy covers an area of 242 acres (107 hectares). This is 0.045% of the borough. The most commonly grown species in the Camden urban forest are: plane species (Platanus spp), common lime (Tilia x europaea), Sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus) and Norway maple (Acer platanoides).
The publicly owned trees remove over 6 tons (5 tonnes) of airborne pollutants each year and store 17,000 tons (10,800 tonnes) of carbon. The existing trees also divert an estimated 8,600 cubic yards (6,700 cubic meters) of storm water runoff away from the local sewer systems each year. This amounts to considerable savings each year in stormwater treatment costs.
The total replacement cost of all trees in Camden would be $61,716,000 (£43.5 million). This would be the cost of having to replace all existing trees with a similar trees using the Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers Methodology guidance from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.
The tree population within Camden represents a very diverse community of trees, with 258 species of trees identified. Tree diversity is important because it increases the overall resilience against various environmental stresses and aggressive species of trees such as in the Acer (maple family) or the Ligustrum (Olive family). The more diverse a tree-scape is, the better the forest is able to deal with possible changes in climate and potential pest and disease impacts.
Size distribution is also an important aspect to consider in managing a sustainable and diverse tree population. This will ensure that there are enough young trees to replace those older specimens that are eventually lost through old age, storms or disease. The size class distribution of trees within Camden is well balanced in the lower size classes. However, the tree population would benefit from a greater diversity of large stature trees in this size class. For example trees over 2 feet or 60cm DBH are dominated by the London Plane (Platanus spp). More diversity would increase the overall resilience of the tree stock.
Leaf area is an important metric because the total photosynthetic area of a tree's canopy is directly related to the amount of benefit provided. The larger the canopy and its surface area, the greater is the amount of air pollution or stormwater which can be held in the canopy of the tree.
Air pollution caused by human activity has become a problem since the beginning of the industrial revolution. With the increase in population and industrialization, large quantities of pollutants are being produced and released into the urban environment. Urban trees can help to improve air quality by reducing air temperature and removing pollutants from the air. However, trees also emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can contribute to low-level ozone formation; but the increase in tree cover leads to a general reduction in ozone through a reduction in the urban heat island effect. Urban trees are most effective if they are close to the source of pollutants.
Surface run-off can be a cause for concern in many areas as it can contribute to flooding and is a source of pollution in streams, wetlands, rivers, lakes, and oceans. During precipitation events, a portion of the rain is intercepted by vegetation (trees and shrubs) and the rest of it reaches the ground. Precipitation that reaches the ground and does not infiltrate into the soil becomes surface runoff. Trees intercept precipitation, while their root systems promote infiltration and storage in the soil. Annual avoided surface runoff is calculated based on rainfall interception by vegetation, specifically the difference between annual runoff with and without vegetation. The trees in Camden do help to reduce runoff.
The tree population within Camden generally has a good species and age diversity. This will provide some resilience from possible future influences such as climate change and pest and disease outbreaks. The role of Camden's trees in people's health is clearly positive.
Camden is highly dependent on the Platanus species for the largest proportion of trees in the larger size classes and all other tree species are less represented. Camden is working to have a greater proportion of other species in order to build diversity and resilience into its tree population.
Since the amount of healthy leaf area equates directly to the provision of benefits, future management of the tree stock is important to ensure the canopy cover levels continue to be maintained or increased. This may be achieved by new tree installations, but the most effective strategy is to preserve and adopt a management approach that enables the existing trees to develop a stable, healthy, age and species diverse, multi-layered population.
The challenge now is to ensure that future policy makers and practitioners take full account of Camden's trees. Not only are the trees a valuable functional component of the landscape, they also make a significant contribution to the resident's quality of life.
Source:
Camden i-Tree Inventory Report, 2017.
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award .5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the 0.5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Municipal Specialist, Tree Worker/Climber, Tree Worker/Aerial Lift, or BCMA management, or science credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to Merchant' / gibneyCE.com. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website.
*SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
Edited by Len Phillips
Camden is a 8.4 sq.mi. (5,376 acres) borough just north of the center of London, England. The borough has just completed an evaluation of their tree management program and concluded that Camden’s municipal trees are generally appreciated by the residents. The woodlands, shrubs, hedges, open grass and wetlands are collectively known as Camden’s urban forest. This urban forest improves the air quality, protects watercourses, saves energy, and improves the health and economic sustainability of the borough's residents.
According to the Camden i-Tree Inventory Report, the total number of trees in Camden is 25,890 and their canopy covers an area of 242 acres (107 hectares). This is 0.045% of the borough. The most commonly grown species in the Camden urban forest are: plane species (Platanus spp), common lime (Tilia x europaea), Sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus) and Norway maple (Acer platanoides).
The publicly owned trees remove over 6 tons (5 tonnes) of airborne pollutants each year and store 17,000 tons (10,800 tonnes) of carbon. The existing trees also divert an estimated 8,600 cubic yards (6,700 cubic meters) of storm water runoff away from the local sewer systems each year. This amounts to considerable savings each year in stormwater treatment costs.
The total replacement cost of all trees in Camden would be $61,716,000 (£43.5 million). This would be the cost of having to replace all existing trees with a similar trees using the Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers Methodology guidance from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.
The tree population within Camden represents a very diverse community of trees, with 258 species of trees identified. Tree diversity is important because it increases the overall resilience against various environmental stresses and aggressive species of trees such as in the Acer (maple family) or the Ligustrum (Olive family). The more diverse a tree-scape is, the better the forest is able to deal with possible changes in climate and potential pest and disease impacts.
Size distribution is also an important aspect to consider in managing a sustainable and diverse tree population. This will ensure that there are enough young trees to replace those older specimens that are eventually lost through old age, storms or disease. The size class distribution of trees within Camden is well balanced in the lower size classes. However, the tree population would benefit from a greater diversity of large stature trees in this size class. For example trees over 2 feet or 60cm DBH are dominated by the London Plane (Platanus spp). More diversity would increase the overall resilience of the tree stock.
Leaf area is an important metric because the total photosynthetic area of a tree's canopy is directly related to the amount of benefit provided. The larger the canopy and its surface area, the greater is the amount of air pollution or stormwater which can be held in the canopy of the tree.
Air pollution caused by human activity has become a problem since the beginning of the industrial revolution. With the increase in population and industrialization, large quantities of pollutants are being produced and released into the urban environment. Urban trees can help to improve air quality by reducing air temperature and removing pollutants from the air. However, trees also emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can contribute to low-level ozone formation; but the increase in tree cover leads to a general reduction in ozone through a reduction in the urban heat island effect. Urban trees are most effective if they are close to the source of pollutants.
Surface run-off can be a cause for concern in many areas as it can contribute to flooding and is a source of pollution in streams, wetlands, rivers, lakes, and oceans. During precipitation events, a portion of the rain is intercepted by vegetation (trees and shrubs) and the rest of it reaches the ground. Precipitation that reaches the ground and does not infiltrate into the soil becomes surface runoff. Trees intercept precipitation, while their root systems promote infiltration and storage in the soil. Annual avoided surface runoff is calculated based on rainfall interception by vegetation, specifically the difference between annual runoff with and without vegetation. The trees in Camden do help to reduce runoff.
The tree population within Camden generally has a good species and age diversity. This will provide some resilience from possible future influences such as climate change and pest and disease outbreaks. The role of Camden's trees in people's health is clearly positive.
Camden is highly dependent on the Platanus species for the largest proportion of trees in the larger size classes and all other tree species are less represented. Camden is working to have a greater proportion of other species in order to build diversity and resilience into its tree population.
Since the amount of healthy leaf area equates directly to the provision of benefits, future management of the tree stock is important to ensure the canopy cover levels continue to be maintained or increased. This may be achieved by new tree installations, but the most effective strategy is to preserve and adopt a management approach that enables the existing trees to develop a stable, healthy, age and species diverse, multi-layered population.
The challenge now is to ensure that future policy makers and practitioners take full account of Camden's trees. Not only are the trees a valuable functional component of the landscape, they also make a significant contribution to the resident's quality of life.
Source:
Camden i-Tree Inventory Report, 2017.
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award .5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the 0.5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Municipal Specialist, Tree Worker/Climber, Tree Worker/Aerial Lift, or BCMA management, or science credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to Merchant' / gibneyCE.com. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website.
*SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
Forest Migration
Edited By Len Phillips
As every person knows, individual trees are rooted to one spot and cannot move. But did you know that forests are restless? Any time an old tree dies or a new one sprouts, the forest surrounding that tree has actually moved. For example, when new tree seedlings sprout only to the north of the parent trees, the forest is migrating in that northerly direction. If a tree on the south side of this forest dies, that dead tree is not replaced and the forest is migrating to the north. The migration of a forest occurs as most tree seedlings sprouting in the same direction and in a couple hundred years this forest of today is gone and using this example, a new forest is growing to the north of the old one.
Today however, humans are cutting trees down by the billions and invasive pests are being transported everywhere because of global trade. These actions are threatening to overwhelm this vital movement of forests. To make matters worse, the climate is changing faster than ever before, and forests are struggling to keep pace with their attempts to migrate toward more forest friendly locations.
Fortunately, this is nothing new. Scientists have tracked forest movements over the eons through fossil evidence that ancient forests left behind. They shuffle back and forth across continents, sometimes following the same route more than once. However, instead of annual migration like birds might do, the forest migration takes centuries, especially when the trees were following the melting glaciers.
Today the only Ginkgo trees anywhere in North America are ones that have been transplanted from China where a small grove of ginkgoes were discovered in the 1940's. This China grove was at the end of a great, world-wide ginkgo forest. Now the extinction of the ginkgo has been postponed as they are again growing all over the world, with the help of mankind planting these popular trees in their landscapes.
The forest migration process works when a forest tree sends seeds just beyond its footprint in every direction, but the seeds that go toward the more hospitable direction will grow better than the seeds that fall in other directions. The hospitable site contains better soil, more moisture, longer growing season, or other desirable growing conditions. Over time, this forest would march steadily toward the more hospitable habitat. Trees are known to communicate with other trees through their root systems which encourages a heavier seedling distribution in the more hospitable habitat which promotes seedling survival. This hospitable habitat is defined by temperature, moisture, sunlight availability, soil types and other growth suitability factors.
The migration of a forest is communal and it is constant. It is accomplished over many human generations and many tree generations. It's a question of the species succeeding and becoming more abundant in one part of its range, and less abundant in other parts of its range. Quaking aspen, Populus tremuloides (see next article) are well known to migrate rather quickly while oaks (Quercus) move very slowly.
This has been happening over millions of years and climate change tends to be the current driving force as it is pushing and pulling forests around the globe. Of course, today, climate change is speeding this process up and trees cannot keep pace. For example, in California it's getting hotter and dryer and scientists estimate that before too long, the Joshua Tree National Park may not be able to sustain younger Joshua trees and these trees will be replaced with more heat tolerant species.
A similar threat to Sequoia National Park occurred during California's epic drought a few years back. The scientists worried that Sequoia National Park would no longer be the place for giant sequoias. At some point we will lose these ancient trees and we will have to think about what we do to replace them, and do we plant new groves somewhere else. This is known as "assisted migration". Humans plant trees in other places where they're more likely to thrive. But this process carries risks because people can accidentally introduce insects and diseases to new places, where they may wipe out entire native populations. So, there is a debate among conservationists and foresters today: Should humans help the forest trees to escape or should they deal with the pests and retard the forest migration?
There may be instances where people are probably going to step in and help species move to places where they will be more suitable in the future. So far, there are no huge movements of citizen groups moving trees in any particular direction because of the advancement of global warming. However, mankind is fighting the advancement of pests and diseases which might alter the natural tree migration.
Climate change is already having dramatic effects on forests. We are going to lose a lot of forests but we will see a lot of species rearranged. We will probably see more fires and droughts and millions of dead trees and major forest species change. As an example, as a child growing up near the Adirondack Mountains of New York State, this author picked wild blueberries in a pasture that had been created by a local farmer after a forest fire and in my lifetime that pasture became a meadow and has now become a pine forest. I saw the pine seedlings growing among the blueberries, but never realized that the blueberry meadow would disappear and a pine forest would replace it.
Many foresters have mourned what has been lost and are trying to preserve the old forest while other foresters try to work toward a new forest future with new cultivars of heat tolerant trees. But that is a story for another time.
Sources
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award .5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the 0.5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Municipal Specialist, Utility, Tree Worker/Climber, Tree Worker/Aerial Lift, or BCMA science credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to Merchant' / gibneyCE.com. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website.
*SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
Edited By Len Phillips
As every person knows, individual trees are rooted to one spot and cannot move. But did you know that forests are restless? Any time an old tree dies or a new one sprouts, the forest surrounding that tree has actually moved. For example, when new tree seedlings sprout only to the north of the parent trees, the forest is migrating in that northerly direction. If a tree on the south side of this forest dies, that dead tree is not replaced and the forest is migrating to the north. The migration of a forest occurs as most tree seedlings sprouting in the same direction and in a couple hundred years this forest of today is gone and using this example, a new forest is growing to the north of the old one.
Today however, humans are cutting trees down by the billions and invasive pests are being transported everywhere because of global trade. These actions are threatening to overwhelm this vital movement of forests. To make matters worse, the climate is changing faster than ever before, and forests are struggling to keep pace with their attempts to migrate toward more forest friendly locations.
Fortunately, this is nothing new. Scientists have tracked forest movements over the eons through fossil evidence that ancient forests left behind. They shuffle back and forth across continents, sometimes following the same route more than once. However, instead of annual migration like birds might do, the forest migration takes centuries, especially when the trees were following the melting glaciers.
Today the only Ginkgo trees anywhere in North America are ones that have been transplanted from China where a small grove of ginkgoes were discovered in the 1940's. This China grove was at the end of a great, world-wide ginkgo forest. Now the extinction of the ginkgo has been postponed as they are again growing all over the world, with the help of mankind planting these popular trees in their landscapes.
The forest migration process works when a forest tree sends seeds just beyond its footprint in every direction, but the seeds that go toward the more hospitable direction will grow better than the seeds that fall in other directions. The hospitable site contains better soil, more moisture, longer growing season, or other desirable growing conditions. Over time, this forest would march steadily toward the more hospitable habitat. Trees are known to communicate with other trees through their root systems which encourages a heavier seedling distribution in the more hospitable habitat which promotes seedling survival. This hospitable habitat is defined by temperature, moisture, sunlight availability, soil types and other growth suitability factors.
The migration of a forest is communal and it is constant. It is accomplished over many human generations and many tree generations. It's a question of the species succeeding and becoming more abundant in one part of its range, and less abundant in other parts of its range. Quaking aspen, Populus tremuloides (see next article) are well known to migrate rather quickly while oaks (Quercus) move very slowly.
This has been happening over millions of years and climate change tends to be the current driving force as it is pushing and pulling forests around the globe. Of course, today, climate change is speeding this process up and trees cannot keep pace. For example, in California it's getting hotter and dryer and scientists estimate that before too long, the Joshua Tree National Park may not be able to sustain younger Joshua trees and these trees will be replaced with more heat tolerant species.
A similar threat to Sequoia National Park occurred during California's epic drought a few years back. The scientists worried that Sequoia National Park would no longer be the place for giant sequoias. At some point we will lose these ancient trees and we will have to think about what we do to replace them, and do we plant new groves somewhere else. This is known as "assisted migration". Humans plant trees in other places where they're more likely to thrive. But this process carries risks because people can accidentally introduce insects and diseases to new places, where they may wipe out entire native populations. So, there is a debate among conservationists and foresters today: Should humans help the forest trees to escape or should they deal with the pests and retard the forest migration?
There may be instances where people are probably going to step in and help species move to places where they will be more suitable in the future. So far, there are no huge movements of citizen groups moving trees in any particular direction because of the advancement of global warming. However, mankind is fighting the advancement of pests and diseases which might alter the natural tree migration.
Climate change is already having dramatic effects on forests. We are going to lose a lot of forests but we will see a lot of species rearranged. We will probably see more fires and droughts and millions of dead trees and major forest species change. As an example, as a child growing up near the Adirondack Mountains of New York State, this author picked wild blueberries in a pasture that had been created by a local farmer after a forest fire and in my lifetime that pasture became a meadow and has now become a pine forest. I saw the pine seedlings growing among the blueberries, but never realized that the blueberry meadow would disappear and a pine forest would replace it.
Many foresters have mourned what has been lost and are trying to preserve the old forest while other foresters try to work toward a new forest future with new cultivars of heat tolerant trees. But that is a story for another time.
Sources
- Heard on NPR Radio “All Things Considered” by ARI SHAPIRO “Forest Migration — But Not Fast Enough For Climate Change”
- St. George, Zach, “The Journeys of Trees”, Amazon Kindle, 2020.
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award .5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the 0.5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Municipal Specialist, Utility, Tree Worker/Climber, Tree Worker/Aerial Lift, or BCMA science credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to Merchant' / gibneyCE.com. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website.
*SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
Trees with Tales
Populus tremuloides
By Len Phillips
The Tree
Populus tremuloides is commonly called trembling aspen, American aspen, mountain aspen, golden aspen, trembling poplar, white poplar, and popple. It is a deciduous tree native to cooler areas of North America. Quaking aspen occurs across Canada in most provinces and territories. In the United States, it can be found as far south as northern Nebraska and central Indiana. In the western United States, this tree rarely survives at elevations lower than 1,500 feet (460 m) due to the hot summers experienced below that elevation. It will grow best in Hardiness Zones 1–7.
Populus tremuloides normally grows to a height of 40–50ft (12-15 m) and a spread of 20–30ft (6-9 m) at maturity. The champion tree is 102 feet (31m) tall and has a crown spread of 42 feet (13m). The quaking aspen grows well in acidic, loamy, and moist soil as well as in sandy, well-drained and clay soils. It prefers abundant moisture. This tree thrives in cool northern climates and will struggle in the heat and humidity of a typical summer in Zone 8 and warmer. Populus tremuloides is generally intolerant of urban pollutants.
In April and May, Quaking aspen produces long, silvery catkins which yield tiny seeds, that are dispersed by the wind on cottony tufts in late spring. The catkins are not showy. Small drooping fruit clusters follow the female flowers in late May.
Tales
Populus tremuloides takes it's name from its rounded, triangular leaves with small teeth on the margins and arranged alternately on the branches. The leaves hang from flexible stems that flutter and tremble in the slightest breeze. This tree is the source of the expression “To shake like a leaf”. The Onondaga native Americans are said to have called quaking aspen "nut-kie-e," meaning "noisy leaf."
The breeze shaking the leaf exposes both their upper leaf surface and their under leaf surface to the sun. This means both sides of the leaf can photosynthesize, generate more energy, resulting in faster growth than most other trees. This is in contrast to other species where the leaf underside is reserved for breathing.
Populus tremuloides is also called a pioneer species because it is one of the first trees to spring up after a forest fire. As it ages, the thin canopy allows the slower growing trees to get established and they soon shade out the aspen. The aspen will then die and become humus for the next forest.
As mentioned above, this tree grows at a fast rate, with height increases of more than 24in (60 cm) per year. The bark is smooth and light gray in youth, but roughens and darkens to black with age. The wood is composed of large cells that grow in haste. They contain a lot of air so fungal filaments can spread quickly in a live tree and quickly produce wood rot in a dead tree.
In Utah, where Populus tremuloides serves as the Utah State Tree, one male clone is estimated to have 47,000 stems of new trees. This clone is called Pando (from the Latin “pandere” which means to spread). It sends up sprouts from its shallow, wide-spreading roots. This single clonal colony of quaking aspen covers 106 acres (43 ha) in the Fishlake National Forest of Utah. It is considered one of the oldest and largest organisms in the world. The colony's root system has been estimated to be 80,000 years old, although tree ring samples date the individual, above-ground, trees at an average of about 130 years old.
During intense fires, the organism survives underground, with its root system sending up new stems in the aftermath of each wildfire. If its postulated age is correct, the climate into which Pando was born was markedly different from that of today, and it may have been as many as 10,000 years since Pando's last successful flowering. A study published in October 2018 concluded that Pando has not been growing for the past 30 – 40 years. Human interference was named as the primary cause, with a study specifically citing people for allowing cattle and deer populations to thrive, their grazing of tender young shoots resulting in fewer saplings to replace the dying mature trees. Enclosed fencing in various locations within the Fishlake National Forest has resulted in a large tree recovery.
If there were a Guinness Book of World Records for trees, the quaking aspen would be in it several times. Besides the dimensions of Pando, it has the widest natural range of any tree in North America, spanning 47 degrees of latitude (equal to half the distance from the equator to the North Pole), 110 degrees of longitude (nine time zones), and elevations from sea level to the timberline.
Populus tremuloides is not a tree for all places. But planted in the right location, the quaking aspen is a delight of color, movement, and sound. It has smooth, greenish-white to cream colored bark on a long, narrow trunk. The wood is used to make products such as toys, tongue depressors, popsicle sticks, clothes pins, crates, and paper pulp.
There are a couple of improved selections of quaking aspen:
Mountain Sentinel® Aspen, Populus tremuloides ‘JFS-Column’, is a leafy landscape exclamation mark that brings a columnar form to the native aspen. Ascending branches form an extremely narrow and upright tree of about 35 ft (11 m) in height and 8 ft (2-1/2 m) of spread at maturity. Its excellent performance in USDA Zone 8 climate and hardiness through Zone 3 assures its adaptability over a wide planting range as well as tolerance to global warming.
The golden yellow autumn color and magically unique sound of fluttering leaves make Mountain Sentinel a popular landscape tree that is neatly packaged in this straight and narrow selection. Eye-catching even in winter, its silvery-gray bark glows in stark contrast to a backdrop of dark evergreens or stormy skies.
Prairie Gold® Aspen, Populus tremuloides ‘NE-Arb’, grows to a height of 30 ft (10m) and has a spread of 15 ft (5 m). This outstanding selection has a narrow oval to pyramidal shape. The leaves are light green and trembling in the breeze. The autumn color is a golden yellow. This cultivar was selected for its ability to adapt to the cold of Zone 4 and the heat of Zone 8 as well as the drought and humidity of the Midwestern prairie. This Nebraska native tree brings lowland adaptability and disease tolerance to a high elevation favorite. Introduced by J.F. Schmidt & Son nursery in cooperation with the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum. Prairie Gold® greatly expands the planting range of this mountain species. This tree has a positive long-term future as a tree suitable for dealing with global warming.
Sources
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award .5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the 0.5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Utility, Municipal Specialist, Tree Worker/Climber, Tree Worker/Aerial Lift, or BCMA science credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to Merchant' / gibneyCE.com. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website.
*SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
Populus tremuloides
By Len Phillips
The Tree
Populus tremuloides is commonly called trembling aspen, American aspen, mountain aspen, golden aspen, trembling poplar, white poplar, and popple. It is a deciduous tree native to cooler areas of North America. Quaking aspen occurs across Canada in most provinces and territories. In the United States, it can be found as far south as northern Nebraska and central Indiana. In the western United States, this tree rarely survives at elevations lower than 1,500 feet (460 m) due to the hot summers experienced below that elevation. It will grow best in Hardiness Zones 1–7.
Populus tremuloides normally grows to a height of 40–50ft (12-15 m) and a spread of 20–30ft (6-9 m) at maturity. The champion tree is 102 feet (31m) tall and has a crown spread of 42 feet (13m). The quaking aspen grows well in acidic, loamy, and moist soil as well as in sandy, well-drained and clay soils. It prefers abundant moisture. This tree thrives in cool northern climates and will struggle in the heat and humidity of a typical summer in Zone 8 and warmer. Populus tremuloides is generally intolerant of urban pollutants.
In April and May, Quaking aspen produces long, silvery catkins which yield tiny seeds, that are dispersed by the wind on cottony tufts in late spring. The catkins are not showy. Small drooping fruit clusters follow the female flowers in late May.
Tales
Populus tremuloides takes it's name from its rounded, triangular leaves with small teeth on the margins and arranged alternately on the branches. The leaves hang from flexible stems that flutter and tremble in the slightest breeze. This tree is the source of the expression “To shake like a leaf”. The Onondaga native Americans are said to have called quaking aspen "nut-kie-e," meaning "noisy leaf."
The breeze shaking the leaf exposes both their upper leaf surface and their under leaf surface to the sun. This means both sides of the leaf can photosynthesize, generate more energy, resulting in faster growth than most other trees. This is in contrast to other species where the leaf underside is reserved for breathing.
Populus tremuloides is also called a pioneer species because it is one of the first trees to spring up after a forest fire. As it ages, the thin canopy allows the slower growing trees to get established and they soon shade out the aspen. The aspen will then die and become humus for the next forest.
As mentioned above, this tree grows at a fast rate, with height increases of more than 24in (60 cm) per year. The bark is smooth and light gray in youth, but roughens and darkens to black with age. The wood is composed of large cells that grow in haste. They contain a lot of air so fungal filaments can spread quickly in a live tree and quickly produce wood rot in a dead tree.
In Utah, where Populus tremuloides serves as the Utah State Tree, one male clone is estimated to have 47,000 stems of new trees. This clone is called Pando (from the Latin “pandere” which means to spread). It sends up sprouts from its shallow, wide-spreading roots. This single clonal colony of quaking aspen covers 106 acres (43 ha) in the Fishlake National Forest of Utah. It is considered one of the oldest and largest organisms in the world. The colony's root system has been estimated to be 80,000 years old, although tree ring samples date the individual, above-ground, trees at an average of about 130 years old.
During intense fires, the organism survives underground, with its root system sending up new stems in the aftermath of each wildfire. If its postulated age is correct, the climate into which Pando was born was markedly different from that of today, and it may have been as many as 10,000 years since Pando's last successful flowering. A study published in October 2018 concluded that Pando has not been growing for the past 30 – 40 years. Human interference was named as the primary cause, with a study specifically citing people for allowing cattle and deer populations to thrive, their grazing of tender young shoots resulting in fewer saplings to replace the dying mature trees. Enclosed fencing in various locations within the Fishlake National Forest has resulted in a large tree recovery.
If there were a Guinness Book of World Records for trees, the quaking aspen would be in it several times. Besides the dimensions of Pando, it has the widest natural range of any tree in North America, spanning 47 degrees of latitude (equal to half the distance from the equator to the North Pole), 110 degrees of longitude (nine time zones), and elevations from sea level to the timberline.
Populus tremuloides is not a tree for all places. But planted in the right location, the quaking aspen is a delight of color, movement, and sound. It has smooth, greenish-white to cream colored bark on a long, narrow trunk. The wood is used to make products such as toys, tongue depressors, popsicle sticks, clothes pins, crates, and paper pulp.
There are a couple of improved selections of quaking aspen:
Mountain Sentinel® Aspen, Populus tremuloides ‘JFS-Column’, is a leafy landscape exclamation mark that brings a columnar form to the native aspen. Ascending branches form an extremely narrow and upright tree of about 35 ft (11 m) in height and 8 ft (2-1/2 m) of spread at maturity. Its excellent performance in USDA Zone 8 climate and hardiness through Zone 3 assures its adaptability over a wide planting range as well as tolerance to global warming.
The golden yellow autumn color and magically unique sound of fluttering leaves make Mountain Sentinel a popular landscape tree that is neatly packaged in this straight and narrow selection. Eye-catching even in winter, its silvery-gray bark glows in stark contrast to a backdrop of dark evergreens or stormy skies.
Prairie Gold® Aspen, Populus tremuloides ‘NE-Arb’, grows to a height of 30 ft (10m) and has a spread of 15 ft (5 m). This outstanding selection has a narrow oval to pyramidal shape. The leaves are light green and trembling in the breeze. The autumn color is a golden yellow. This cultivar was selected for its ability to adapt to the cold of Zone 4 and the heat of Zone 8 as well as the drought and humidity of the Midwestern prairie. This Nebraska native tree brings lowland adaptability and disease tolerance to a high elevation favorite. Introduced by J.F. Schmidt & Son nursery in cooperation with the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum. Prairie Gold® greatly expands the planting range of this mountain species. This tree has a positive long-term future as a tree suitable for dealing with global warming.
Sources
- Dirr, Michael A. and Keith S. Warren, “The Tree Book”, Timber Press, 2019.
- J.Frank Schmidt & Son Nursery Information sheets.
- Missouri Botanical Garden, “Populus tremuloides”, Plant Finder
- Wikipedia, “Populus tremuloides ”, 7 January 2021
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award .5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the 0.5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Utility, Municipal Specialist, Tree Worker/Climber, Tree Worker/Aerial Lift, or BCMA science credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to Merchant' / gibneyCE.com. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website.
*SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
Frederick Law Olmsted
Edited by Len Phillips
Frederick Law Olmsted was born in Hartford, CT, in 1822, where his family had lived for eight generations. His father, a successful dry-goods merchant, loved scenery and took Olmsted on regular trips through the countryside where he developed a great love for travel and landscapes. Olmsted showed little love for formal education. However, he was schooled largely by ministers and briefly attended Yale. Sickness caused him to withdraw after his first semester.
For the next 20 years he gathered experiences which helped shape his future landscape design skills. This Included a year-long voyage in the China Trade and farming on Staten Island. He tried his hand at various careers such as a reporter for the New York Daily Times; he served as a partner in a publishing firm; and he became a managing editor of a literary and political journal. Olmsted was also a merchant; an apprentice seaman; an experimental farmer; and even became a gold mine manager. He directed several agencies. One important topic he studied and reported on was exposing the injustice of slavery in the South. He explored many Southern plantations and wrote influential pieces on what he experienced for the NY Daily Times and published a series of books. During his southern journey, Olmsted also witnessed the impact of African-American slaves on the American landscape.
Olmsted believed universal access to nature and beauty was a right for all people, so he would eventually design landscapes that would help elevate community health and in turn, social discourse. He was guided by the belief that public spaces should be accessible and inclusive. He believed public parks would serve as a democratizing force, bringing many communities together to forge a new American society.
In 1850, Olmsted took a six-month walking tour that was to prove life-changing. He traveled to England and went for a visit to Liverpool’s Birkenhead Park, a rare public park, open to all. There, Olmsted concluded that park access should be a right for all Americans. “I was struck,” he wrote, “by this democratic development of the highest significance.”
Olmsted was commissioned by the New York Daily Times in 1852 to go back to the South and examine the system of slavery. Most Northerners had little understanding of the slavery system or the South in general. The Times wanted a traveling correspondent who would “confine his statements to matters that he observed, personally.”
Traveling undercover, and with the same gusto he had as a child, Olmsted took boats down the Mississippi, rode horseback and walked the countryside. He visited with strangers all the way to west Texas. After he returned to the North, between 1856 and 1860, he published three volumes of his accounts and social analyses about these travels. His books described how he wanted to see the South and the rest of the country build public and democratically accessible canals, roads, town squares, parks, schools, and libraries. While town squares and parks “partially existed in the South,” he found through his travels there were very few roads and schools, and no restaurants or libraries. The South had no public facilities. It was all private land in the form of massive plantations. During this period, he used his literary skills to oppose the westward expansion of slavery and to argue for the abolition of slavery by the Southern states. Soon after his writings, the Civil War broke out in 1861 and lasted until 1865.
Thanks to powerful connections made through his literary pursuits, Olmsted secured the position of superintendent of New York City's, Central Park in 1857. A few months later, Calvert Vaux, a rising young architect from England, asked Olmsted to join him in preparing an entry for the Central Park design competition. Working against the looming deadline, Olmsted and Vaux created the Greensward Plan and beat 32 competitors. They designed unique transverse roads, sinking them so that travel through the park would not distract from the landscape experience or be dangerous. They also created a path system that subtly directed people’s movements. In so many ways, Central Park proved a testing ground for design principles incorporated into Olmsted's later work.
The Central Park project was more than a design. It was a massive public works project. Starting in 1857 and for the next 15 years, 3,000 workers moved nearly 50 million cubic yards of stone, earth and topsoil. They built 36 bridges and arches, and constructed 11 overpasses. They also planted 500,000 trees, shrubs and vines. Central Park became a man-made wonder. Not only is it the first public park built in America, but it also became one of the most frequently visited city parks in the country, with over 25 million guests per year. Construction was completed in 1876.
In the process of the design and construction of New York City's Central Park, Olmsted invented landscape architecture. However, when Olmsted began his career as a landscape architect with the commission to plan and design Central Park, he also advocated for parks to have a homogenizing and “civilizing” influence on whom he described in his writings as “Negroes,” “Immigrants,” and “The Working Class.” In his view, parks would elevate these groups by enabling them to participate in public spaces with white Americans, whom he considered to be the upper classes even after the Civil War.
At the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, Olmsted left Central Park to take a new position in Washington, D.C., becoming the first Executive Secretary of the U.S. Sanitary Commission, the forerunner of the American Red Cross. Olmsted was tapped to apply the same organizational skills he had honed in the building of Central Park to the Union Army, which was beset with challenges. He was charged with overseeing camp sanitation and creating a national system of medical supplies for the troops. Assisted by volunteers, Olmsted implemented an array of health practices, including exercise and good nutrition. At the same time, he invented medical ships by retrofitting military boats in record time to serve as floating hospitals. Thanks to the practices Olmsted put in place, thousands of lives were saved, and the experience proved critical in strengthening Olmsted’s understanding of the importance of sanitation and sanitary engineering which are essential tenets in his landscape designs, both before and after the war.
Olmsted became committed to democratic access to public spaces, which is one of the foundations of inclusion. He encouraged communities to re-imagine this core value to plan and design more inclusive places.
He passed away in 1903 at his home/office in Brookline, Massachusetts.
Source:
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award .5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the 0.5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Utility, Municipal Specialist, Tree Worker/Climber, Tree Worker/Aerial Lift, or BCMA management credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to Merchant' / gibneyCE.com. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website.
*SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
Edited by Len Phillips
Frederick Law Olmsted was born in Hartford, CT, in 1822, where his family had lived for eight generations. His father, a successful dry-goods merchant, loved scenery and took Olmsted on regular trips through the countryside where he developed a great love for travel and landscapes. Olmsted showed little love for formal education. However, he was schooled largely by ministers and briefly attended Yale. Sickness caused him to withdraw after his first semester.
For the next 20 years he gathered experiences which helped shape his future landscape design skills. This Included a year-long voyage in the China Trade and farming on Staten Island. He tried his hand at various careers such as a reporter for the New York Daily Times; he served as a partner in a publishing firm; and he became a managing editor of a literary and political journal. Olmsted was also a merchant; an apprentice seaman; an experimental farmer; and even became a gold mine manager. He directed several agencies. One important topic he studied and reported on was exposing the injustice of slavery in the South. He explored many Southern plantations and wrote influential pieces on what he experienced for the NY Daily Times and published a series of books. During his southern journey, Olmsted also witnessed the impact of African-American slaves on the American landscape.
Olmsted believed universal access to nature and beauty was a right for all people, so he would eventually design landscapes that would help elevate community health and in turn, social discourse. He was guided by the belief that public spaces should be accessible and inclusive. He believed public parks would serve as a democratizing force, bringing many communities together to forge a new American society.
In 1850, Olmsted took a six-month walking tour that was to prove life-changing. He traveled to England and went for a visit to Liverpool’s Birkenhead Park, a rare public park, open to all. There, Olmsted concluded that park access should be a right for all Americans. “I was struck,” he wrote, “by this democratic development of the highest significance.”
Olmsted was commissioned by the New York Daily Times in 1852 to go back to the South and examine the system of slavery. Most Northerners had little understanding of the slavery system or the South in general. The Times wanted a traveling correspondent who would “confine his statements to matters that he observed, personally.”
Traveling undercover, and with the same gusto he had as a child, Olmsted took boats down the Mississippi, rode horseback and walked the countryside. He visited with strangers all the way to west Texas. After he returned to the North, between 1856 and 1860, he published three volumes of his accounts and social analyses about these travels. His books described how he wanted to see the South and the rest of the country build public and democratically accessible canals, roads, town squares, parks, schools, and libraries. While town squares and parks “partially existed in the South,” he found through his travels there were very few roads and schools, and no restaurants or libraries. The South had no public facilities. It was all private land in the form of massive plantations. During this period, he used his literary skills to oppose the westward expansion of slavery and to argue for the abolition of slavery by the Southern states. Soon after his writings, the Civil War broke out in 1861 and lasted until 1865.
Thanks to powerful connections made through his literary pursuits, Olmsted secured the position of superintendent of New York City's, Central Park in 1857. A few months later, Calvert Vaux, a rising young architect from England, asked Olmsted to join him in preparing an entry for the Central Park design competition. Working against the looming deadline, Olmsted and Vaux created the Greensward Plan and beat 32 competitors. They designed unique transverse roads, sinking them so that travel through the park would not distract from the landscape experience or be dangerous. They also created a path system that subtly directed people’s movements. In so many ways, Central Park proved a testing ground for design principles incorporated into Olmsted's later work.
The Central Park project was more than a design. It was a massive public works project. Starting in 1857 and for the next 15 years, 3,000 workers moved nearly 50 million cubic yards of stone, earth and topsoil. They built 36 bridges and arches, and constructed 11 overpasses. They also planted 500,000 trees, shrubs and vines. Central Park became a man-made wonder. Not only is it the first public park built in America, but it also became one of the most frequently visited city parks in the country, with over 25 million guests per year. Construction was completed in 1876.
In the process of the design and construction of New York City's Central Park, Olmsted invented landscape architecture. However, when Olmsted began his career as a landscape architect with the commission to plan and design Central Park, he also advocated for parks to have a homogenizing and “civilizing” influence on whom he described in his writings as “Negroes,” “Immigrants,” and “The Working Class.” In his view, parks would elevate these groups by enabling them to participate in public spaces with white Americans, whom he considered to be the upper classes even after the Civil War.
At the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, Olmsted left Central Park to take a new position in Washington, D.C., becoming the first Executive Secretary of the U.S. Sanitary Commission, the forerunner of the American Red Cross. Olmsted was tapped to apply the same organizational skills he had honed in the building of Central Park to the Union Army, which was beset with challenges. He was charged with overseeing camp sanitation and creating a national system of medical supplies for the troops. Assisted by volunteers, Olmsted implemented an array of health practices, including exercise and good nutrition. At the same time, he invented medical ships by retrofitting military boats in record time to serve as floating hospitals. Thanks to the practices Olmsted put in place, thousands of lives were saved, and the experience proved critical in strengthening Olmsted’s understanding of the importance of sanitation and sanitary engineering which are essential tenets in his landscape designs, both before and after the war.
Olmsted became committed to democratic access to public spaces, which is one of the foundations of inclusion. He encouraged communities to re-imagine this core value to plan and design more inclusive places.
He passed away in 1903 at his home/office in Brookline, Massachusetts.
Source:
- Roxanne Blackwell, Jared Green, and Lisa Jennings, “A Vision for Truly Inclusive Public Spaces Rooted in Olmsted’s Core Values”, Landscape Architecture & Design
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award .5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the 0.5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Utility, Municipal Specialist, Tree Worker/Climber, Tree Worker/Aerial Lift, or BCMA management credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to Merchant' / gibneyCE.com. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website.
*SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
Battery-Powered Chain-Saws
Edited by Len Phillips
Global warming is getting worse every year. Arborists must do their part and there is something every arborist and forester must consider -- battery or solar powered electric chain saws. These saws do not have as much power as their gas counterparts, but they are easy to use and offer enough power for tree trimming and cutting small trees and limbs.
These saws are now available for use by professional arborists as well as homeowners. The technology is constantly improving, with longer running times up to 45 minutes per charge, shorter recharge periods, greater torque and interchangeable battery packs so the saw can be utilized all day long. One chainsaw manufacturer has equipped one of their saws with a small solar cell charger that restores power to the batteries anytime the saw is sitting in the sun.
When selecting a battery powered chain saw, consider how it will be used and what is the average expected run-time for the battery. Some models are getting the battery back up to full charge in as little as 45 minutes. Battery saws are heavily marketed to homeowners, they generally follow the manufacturing processes tailored for these markets. This means the saws are light weight and have hard plastic parts instead of metal.
For a total environmentally friendly approach, arborists should consider small photoelectric systems that could be mounted on top of a truck or the chip box. They automatically shutoff when the saw is not in use or the battery is fully charged. Some saws offer different operating modes depending on how much horsepower and running time is needed. Consider how to get the recharged batteries get back up to the climber from the ground. A battery should not be falling 50 feet (16m) out of a tree so this and other changes required with electric saws should be considered before investing in the saw just right for you.
The relatively quiet nature of battery-powered saws is a big advantage over the noisy gas-powered saws. This is a major advantage when working in residential areas or with large crews working simultaneously. The lack of emissions is another major advantage. Pruning tasks can get knocked out just as effectively with a quiet, battery-powered saw on a pruning job, while helping to keep the noise down for concerned citizens, at least until it is time to fire up the chipper.
Weight and vibration
Battery-powered saws are usually lighter than gasoline saws. Not a huge difference, but holding a little less weight can help reduce operator fatigue and the potential for accidents from tired chainsaw operators. In addition, the vibration is much less of a concern. This can cut down on fatigue and the possibility of workers developing capillary damage in their hands from the vibrations (also known as white palm). The forces on the chain saw have not changed though, so pinching and kickback are still an issue.
Safety
This is the biggest consideration with battery-powered saws. They must be handled just as carefully as a gas-powered saw. The current perception of battery-powered saws among some homeowners and tree workers is that they are little more than toys, not needing any respect or warnings. This has led to people who should not be running a saw in the first place taking unnecessary risks with the saw. When used with incorrect techniques, a chain can be thrown or broken just as easily from a battery-powered saw. Do not think that a brand-new employee does not need training and close supervision just because they have a battery-powered saw. The risk of kickback does not go away either. Chain saw operators still need to maintain safe work practices, and employers must train their employees with safety, foremost in their mind.
What about the rain? This should be common sense, but electric saw operators should not be running a battery-powered saw in poor weather conditions. Operators will find that the manuals have several statements and scary icons mentioning that this is a big no-no. That is a pretty big negative against battery saws, as their usefulness in storm cleanup situations is very limited. Keep in mind that if gas-powered saws need to be used in rain, do so with extreme caution, not for the saw, but for the saw operator, just like always.
When storing the batteries, they will need to avoid storage with poor ventilation and high temperatures such as in a metal storage shed or shipping container. Once the batteries go above 120 degrees F (50 degrees C), the risk of fire from the battery becomes very real.
One other important note to remember: The instantaneous torque provided by a battery-powered saw will not be stopped as quickly by protective clothing as with the gas-powered saw with a brake. It is noted on the chain-saw chaps, that they are rated for stopping gasoline-powered saws. Once again, the battery-powered chain saw operator must be even more cautious with a battery-powered saw. They need to treat it with the same respect as with any tool.
Battery powered chain saw operators still need to carry their files or sharpeners, and they still need to add bar-and-chain oil. Bar-and-chain oil is the one requirement most often being neglected on battery and electric saws.
The lack of a fuel tank and carburetor eliminates much of the planned maintenance, but the saw operator will still need to pull the saw apart from time to time to clean it and check that the bar-and-chain-oil tube is not getting clogged.
Sources
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award .5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the 0.5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Utility, Municipal Specialist, Tree Worker/Climber, Tree Worker/Aerial Lift, or BCMA management credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to Merchant' / gibneyCE.com. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website.
*SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
Edited by Len Phillips
Global warming is getting worse every year. Arborists must do their part and there is something every arborist and forester must consider -- battery or solar powered electric chain saws. These saws do not have as much power as their gas counterparts, but they are easy to use and offer enough power for tree trimming and cutting small trees and limbs.
These saws are now available for use by professional arborists as well as homeowners. The technology is constantly improving, with longer running times up to 45 minutes per charge, shorter recharge periods, greater torque and interchangeable battery packs so the saw can be utilized all day long. One chainsaw manufacturer has equipped one of their saws with a small solar cell charger that restores power to the batteries anytime the saw is sitting in the sun.
When selecting a battery powered chain saw, consider how it will be used and what is the average expected run-time for the battery. Some models are getting the battery back up to full charge in as little as 45 minutes. Battery saws are heavily marketed to homeowners, they generally follow the manufacturing processes tailored for these markets. This means the saws are light weight and have hard plastic parts instead of metal.
For a total environmentally friendly approach, arborists should consider small photoelectric systems that could be mounted on top of a truck or the chip box. They automatically shutoff when the saw is not in use or the battery is fully charged. Some saws offer different operating modes depending on how much horsepower and running time is needed. Consider how to get the recharged batteries get back up to the climber from the ground. A battery should not be falling 50 feet (16m) out of a tree so this and other changes required with electric saws should be considered before investing in the saw just right for you.
The relatively quiet nature of battery-powered saws is a big advantage over the noisy gas-powered saws. This is a major advantage when working in residential areas or with large crews working simultaneously. The lack of emissions is another major advantage. Pruning tasks can get knocked out just as effectively with a quiet, battery-powered saw on a pruning job, while helping to keep the noise down for concerned citizens, at least until it is time to fire up the chipper.
Weight and vibration
Battery-powered saws are usually lighter than gasoline saws. Not a huge difference, but holding a little less weight can help reduce operator fatigue and the potential for accidents from tired chainsaw operators. In addition, the vibration is much less of a concern. This can cut down on fatigue and the possibility of workers developing capillary damage in their hands from the vibrations (also known as white palm). The forces on the chain saw have not changed though, so pinching and kickback are still an issue.
Safety
This is the biggest consideration with battery-powered saws. They must be handled just as carefully as a gas-powered saw. The current perception of battery-powered saws among some homeowners and tree workers is that they are little more than toys, not needing any respect or warnings. This has led to people who should not be running a saw in the first place taking unnecessary risks with the saw. When used with incorrect techniques, a chain can be thrown or broken just as easily from a battery-powered saw. Do not think that a brand-new employee does not need training and close supervision just because they have a battery-powered saw. The risk of kickback does not go away either. Chain saw operators still need to maintain safe work practices, and employers must train their employees with safety, foremost in their mind.
What about the rain? This should be common sense, but electric saw operators should not be running a battery-powered saw in poor weather conditions. Operators will find that the manuals have several statements and scary icons mentioning that this is a big no-no. That is a pretty big negative against battery saws, as their usefulness in storm cleanup situations is very limited. Keep in mind that if gas-powered saws need to be used in rain, do so with extreme caution, not for the saw, but for the saw operator, just like always.
When storing the batteries, they will need to avoid storage with poor ventilation and high temperatures such as in a metal storage shed or shipping container. Once the batteries go above 120 degrees F (50 degrees C), the risk of fire from the battery becomes very real.
One other important note to remember: The instantaneous torque provided by a battery-powered saw will not be stopped as quickly by protective clothing as with the gas-powered saw with a brake. It is noted on the chain-saw chaps, that they are rated for stopping gasoline-powered saws. Once again, the battery-powered chain saw operator must be even more cautious with a battery-powered saw. They need to treat it with the same respect as with any tool.
Battery powered chain saw operators still need to carry their files or sharpeners, and they still need to add bar-and-chain oil. Bar-and-chain oil is the one requirement most often being neglected on battery and electric saws.
The lack of a fuel tank and carburetor eliminates much of the planned maintenance, but the saw operator will still need to pull the saw apart from time to time to clean it and check that the bar-and-chain-oil tube is not getting clogged.
Sources
- Jones, Richard, “Battery-Powered Chain-Saw Considerations”, Magazine, June 2021.
- Manufacturer's recommendations.
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award .5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the 0.5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Utility, Municipal Specialist, Tree Worker/Climber, Tree Worker/Aerial Lift, or BCMA management credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to Merchant' / gibneyCE.com. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website.
*SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
Tree of the Seminar
Paulownia tomentosa
By Len Phillips
Paulownia tomentosa, commonly known as princess tree, empress tree, or foxglove-tree is a showy, aggressive ornamental and deciduous tree in the family Paulowniaceae. It is native to central and western China. The generic name Paulownia honors Anna Pavlova of Russia. These trees can grow in U.S.D.A. Hardiness Zone 5 to 9. It grows rapidly in disturbed areas, including steep rocky slopes that may also be habitats for other rare plants. Currently it is also being grown in plantations and harvested for export to Japan where its wood is highly valued. Paulownia is pronounced (paw low we ne ah).
The princess tree grows in a very irregular shape, 30-60 ft (9-18 m) tall, with large heart-shaped to five-lobed leaves 6–16 inches (15–40 cm) across, arranged in opposite pairs on the stem. On young growth, the leaves may be in whorls of three and be much bigger than the leaves on more mature growth.
The very fragrant and beautiful princess tree flowers open in April and May and last for 6 to 8 weeks. The blooms resemble a foxglove flower and are produced before the leaves in early spring. They are long panicles, with a tubular and purple corolla 1-½ to 2-½ inches (4–6 cm) long. Seed-forming pollen is fully developed before the onset of winter and in spring the flowers are pollinated by insects. Seeds germinate within a few days on suitable substrate.
The fruit of the princess tree is a dry egg-shaped capsule 1 to 1-½ inches (3–4cm) long, containing numerous tiny seeds. The seed pod on these trees has four compartments that contain as many as 2,000 tiny winged seeds. The capsules mature in autumn, open to release the seeds and then remain attached all winter. One tree is capable of producing twenty million seeds that are easily transported in water or by wind. This is the main reason the tree is considered aggressive and invasive. Pollard pruned trees do not produce flowers.
Seedlings grow quickly and flower within 8 to10 years. Paulownia tomentosa can reproduce from seed or from root sprouts; the latter can grow to over 15 ft (5m) in a single season. The fibrous root branches are shallow and horizontal without a strong taproot. Mature trees are often structurally unsound and rarely live more than 70 years. The princess tree trunk has rough, gray-brown bark with interlaced smooth areas that are often shiny. The bark of young branches has prominent white lenticels. On a positive note, the species produces high quality lumber.
The leaves can be mistaken in size for those of the catalpa (Catalpa speciosa). Paulownia leaves emerge from round, brown, hairy buds formed during the previous summer. Paulownia trees are highly invasive and are destroying native ecosystems from Maine to Florida and Texas, as well as the Pacific Northwest.
Paulownia tomentosa requires full sun for proper growth. It is tolerant of pollution and many soil types. It can also grow to full size trees through small cracks in pavements and walls. Paulownia can survive wildfires because the roots can regenerate new, very fast-growing stems. Because of its tolerance and flexibility, Paulownia functions ecologically as a pioneer plant. Its nitrogen-rich leaves provide good fodder and its roots prevent soil erosion. Paulownia absorbs carbon dioxide like no other tree. Eventually, Paulownia is succeeded by taller trees that shade it, and in whose shade, Paulownia cannot thrive.
In Japan, the princess tree is planted at the birth of a girl. The fast-growing tree matures as she does, so when she is eligible for marriage the tree is cut down and carved into wooden articles for her dowry. Carving the wood of Paulownia is an art form in Japan. According to legend, it is said that the phoenix bird will land only on this tree, and only when a good ruler is in power. Several Asian string instruments are made from P. tomentosa wood, including the Japanese koto and Korean gayageum zithers.
The princess tree's soft, lightweight seeds were commonly used as a packing material by Chinese porcelain exporters in the 19th century. Packing cases would often leak or burst open in transit and scatter the seeds along rail tracks and highways. This was before the development of polystyrene packaging. The magnitude of the numbers of Paulownia tomentosa seeds used for packaging, together with seeds deliberately planted for ornament, has allowed the species to be viewed as an invasive species in areas where the climate is suitable for its growth, notably in Japan and eastern United States.
The Paulownia Cotevisa 2, is a sterile, cloned, hybrid that can withstand temperature ranges from 0 to 120º F
(-20 to +50º C). This princess tree has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
Sources:
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award .5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the 0.5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Utility, Municipal Specialist, Tree Worker/Climber, Tree Worker/Aerial Lift, or BCMA management credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to Merchant' / gibneyCE.com. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website.
*SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
Paulownia tomentosa
By Len Phillips
Paulownia tomentosa, commonly known as princess tree, empress tree, or foxglove-tree is a showy, aggressive ornamental and deciduous tree in the family Paulowniaceae. It is native to central and western China. The generic name Paulownia honors Anna Pavlova of Russia. These trees can grow in U.S.D.A. Hardiness Zone 5 to 9. It grows rapidly in disturbed areas, including steep rocky slopes that may also be habitats for other rare plants. Currently it is also being grown in plantations and harvested for export to Japan where its wood is highly valued. Paulownia is pronounced (paw low we ne ah).
The princess tree grows in a very irregular shape, 30-60 ft (9-18 m) tall, with large heart-shaped to five-lobed leaves 6–16 inches (15–40 cm) across, arranged in opposite pairs on the stem. On young growth, the leaves may be in whorls of three and be much bigger than the leaves on more mature growth.
The very fragrant and beautiful princess tree flowers open in April and May and last for 6 to 8 weeks. The blooms resemble a foxglove flower and are produced before the leaves in early spring. They are long panicles, with a tubular and purple corolla 1-½ to 2-½ inches (4–6 cm) long. Seed-forming pollen is fully developed before the onset of winter and in spring the flowers are pollinated by insects. Seeds germinate within a few days on suitable substrate.
The fruit of the princess tree is a dry egg-shaped capsule 1 to 1-½ inches (3–4cm) long, containing numerous tiny seeds. The seed pod on these trees has four compartments that contain as many as 2,000 tiny winged seeds. The capsules mature in autumn, open to release the seeds and then remain attached all winter. One tree is capable of producing twenty million seeds that are easily transported in water or by wind. This is the main reason the tree is considered aggressive and invasive. Pollard pruned trees do not produce flowers.
Seedlings grow quickly and flower within 8 to10 years. Paulownia tomentosa can reproduce from seed or from root sprouts; the latter can grow to over 15 ft (5m) in a single season. The fibrous root branches are shallow and horizontal without a strong taproot. Mature trees are often structurally unsound and rarely live more than 70 years. The princess tree trunk has rough, gray-brown bark with interlaced smooth areas that are often shiny. The bark of young branches has prominent white lenticels. On a positive note, the species produces high quality lumber.
The leaves can be mistaken in size for those of the catalpa (Catalpa speciosa). Paulownia leaves emerge from round, brown, hairy buds formed during the previous summer. Paulownia trees are highly invasive and are destroying native ecosystems from Maine to Florida and Texas, as well as the Pacific Northwest.
Paulownia tomentosa requires full sun for proper growth. It is tolerant of pollution and many soil types. It can also grow to full size trees through small cracks in pavements and walls. Paulownia can survive wildfires because the roots can regenerate new, very fast-growing stems. Because of its tolerance and flexibility, Paulownia functions ecologically as a pioneer plant. Its nitrogen-rich leaves provide good fodder and its roots prevent soil erosion. Paulownia absorbs carbon dioxide like no other tree. Eventually, Paulownia is succeeded by taller trees that shade it, and in whose shade, Paulownia cannot thrive.
In Japan, the princess tree is planted at the birth of a girl. The fast-growing tree matures as she does, so when she is eligible for marriage the tree is cut down and carved into wooden articles for her dowry. Carving the wood of Paulownia is an art form in Japan. According to legend, it is said that the phoenix bird will land only on this tree, and only when a good ruler is in power. Several Asian string instruments are made from P. tomentosa wood, including the Japanese koto and Korean gayageum zithers.
The princess tree's soft, lightweight seeds were commonly used as a packing material by Chinese porcelain exporters in the 19th century. Packing cases would often leak or burst open in transit and scatter the seeds along rail tracks and highways. This was before the development of polystyrene packaging. The magnitude of the numbers of Paulownia tomentosa seeds used for packaging, together with seeds deliberately planted for ornament, has allowed the species to be viewed as an invasive species in areas where the climate is suitable for its growth, notably in Japan and eastern United States.
The Paulownia Cotevisa 2, is a sterile, cloned, hybrid that can withstand temperature ranges from 0 to 120º F
(-20 to +50º C). This princess tree has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
Sources:
- Dirr, Michael A. and Keith S. Warren, “The Tree Book”, Timber Press, 2019.
- Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council Invasive Plant Manual, Paulownia tomentosa, Princess Tree.
- Wikipedia, Paulownia tomentosa, 13 February 2021.
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award .5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the 0.5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Utility, Municipal Specialist, Tree Worker/Climber, Tree Worker/Aerial Lift, or BCMA management credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to Merchant' / gibneyCE.com. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website.
*SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
Is It a Variety, Cultivar, or Hybrid?
By Len Phillips
A name is a word by which arborists know certain plants, people or animals. We use a name to identify a specific plant, person or animal according to their specific characteristics. For example, trees have leaves and bark which set them apart from grass and other plants. Furthermore, all plants can be grouped according to specific similarities, such as leaf shape, bark, plant size, flower, etc.
Before 1753, there was no standard process for naming a tree or plant. In that year, Carl von Linne, also known as Carolus Linnaeus, developed the binomial system of nomenclature. It meant that plants acquire two Latinized names, one representing the genus ( for example – Acer for all maples) and the other being the species, or specific epithet (rubrum for red maple). The combination of these two names identifies the same specific plant anywhere in the world.
Today, tree naming is governed by the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants (ICNCP). The most current version of this was published on June 15, 2016. This is a separate system from that used for wild plants which is the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature (ICNB) that was last published in 2018.
Family
The family is a broad sub-order or classification of closely related genus plants. It refers to plants between an order (trees) and a genus (maples). All the maples and soapberry for example, are in the Family Sapindaceae
Genus
The genus refers to closely related and a definable group of plants. For example, all maples are in the genus Acer. Maples such as Acer rubrum and Acer saccharum both have 3 to 5 lobed leaves. Each genus may have several species. The genus will have more plant characteristics in common with each other than they do with other genera in the same family.
Occasionally a genus will have only one species and it is called a monotypic species. There may have been more monotypic species in the ancient past, but today there is only one. Ginkgo biloba is the example. (see the Arborist Dictionary for a complete list of monotyic species in the world today.)
Species
Species is the next lower category of the binomial system of nomenclature, ranking below a genus. A species has distinct features that make it different from other plants in the genus. For example, Acer rubrum refers to all red maples and Acer saccharum refers to all sugar maples.
Variety
Often the subdivision of names can go below species into categories such as variety, cultivar, and hybrid. Varieties refer to individuals displaying slight differences and are inherited by seed in succeeding generations. For example, Gleditsia triacanthos, the common honeylocust, has thorns, while Gleditsia triacanthos variety inermis is the same tree but without thorns.
Clone
A clone is a tree grown from a cutting. Cloned trees grow their own roots and have the exact same genetics as their parent tree. A clone is a genetically identical group of plants originating from a single plant by vegetative propagation. Pando is a clone of Populus tremuloides.
Selections
Selections are usually asexually propagated to maintain a particular plant form. Selections can be created in a variety of ways. For example, they may be taken from parts of the plant which result in a particular growth habit as when prostrate plants are derived from cuttings of lateral branches. Some selections maintain a particular phase of the plants life cycle. For example, many Ficus selections are selected from forms of juvenile leaves that are maintained in a juvenile state. A common source of new selections is aberrant growth such as variegation of leaves.
Hybrid
A hybrid is a man-made cross pollination of two closely related trees to create a new tree. The hybrid may grow with more vigor or pest resistance or have different color flowers or produce larger yields than either parent. Hybrids, which are created sexually, can be either maintained asexually or by seed. An example is Shade Poplar Hybrid, Populus deltoides x populus nigra.
F1 Hybrid
The first generation hybrid made from two pure-bred parents. F1 hybrids, which require to be re-created for each new generation, qualify as cultivars if the cross produces stable, repeatable forms. For example, Chinese chestnut × American chestnut have produced F1 hybrids to obtain a blight resistant American chestnut.
Cultivar
The cultivar is the basic grouping, or taxon for cultivated varieties. The word was coined by Liberty Hyde Bailey in 1923 and is now commonly used. Cultivars are plants raised in cultivation which differ sufficiently from their wild ancestors or if taken into cultivation from the wild they are worthy enough of distinction from wild populations for horticultural purposes to merit special names. Cultivar names are indicated by single quotation marks. For example, Acer rubrum 'Autumn Flame', is a cultivar noted for its intense autumn color.
Plants that can be considered as cultivars include deliberate man-made cross breeding hybrids, accidental hybrids in cultivation, a selection from existing cultivated stock, or a selection from variants within a wild population and maintained as a recognizable entity solely by continued propagation.
A cultivar is an assemblage of plants selected for desirable characteristics that are maintained during propagation. More generally, a cultivar is the most basic classification category of cultivated plants in the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants.
Cultivars are man-made creations or unique selections that cannot be reproduced from seed and must be reproduced by cuttings or grafting and maintained at a nursery. For example, Acer plantanoides 'Crimson King' is the purplish maroon foliage colored version of the green leafed Norway Maple Acer plantanoides. The cultivar name is written with single quotes or the insertion of cv before the cultivar name. For example, Acer plantanoides cv. Crimson King.
Normal forms of plants brought from the wild into cultivation retain the same name (ICBN) and similarly plant forms maintained solely by cultivation practices are not eligible for cultivar status. It is important to note that not all plants in cultivation are cultivars, and not all cultivars are in cultivation.
To complicate matters even more, it is possible to have a cultivar of a hybrid. For example, rubra is the pink flowering form of Cornus florida and 'Cherokee Chief ' is the cultivar of the variety rubra. The tree is called Cornus florida var. rubra 'Cherokee Chief'.
Trademarks and Registered Trees
Trademarks are indicated by ™ and the name is written in capital letters. Trademarks point distinctly to the origin or ownership of the tree to which it is applied and it are legally reserved for the exclusive use of the owner as the originator.
Registered trees are indicated by ® and are produced from a single specific tree and this same tree is used for the production of all additional trees with this registration.
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award .5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the 0.5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Utility, Municipal Specialist, Tree Worker/Climber, Tree Worker/Aerial Lift, or BCMA science credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to Merchant' / gibneyCE.com. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website.
*SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
By Len Phillips
A name is a word by which arborists know certain plants, people or animals. We use a name to identify a specific plant, person or animal according to their specific characteristics. For example, trees have leaves and bark which set them apart from grass and other plants. Furthermore, all plants can be grouped according to specific similarities, such as leaf shape, bark, plant size, flower, etc.
Before 1753, there was no standard process for naming a tree or plant. In that year, Carl von Linne, also known as Carolus Linnaeus, developed the binomial system of nomenclature. It meant that plants acquire two Latinized names, one representing the genus ( for example – Acer for all maples) and the other being the species, or specific epithet (rubrum for red maple). The combination of these two names identifies the same specific plant anywhere in the world.
Today, tree naming is governed by the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants (ICNCP). The most current version of this was published on June 15, 2016. This is a separate system from that used for wild plants which is the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature (ICNB) that was last published in 2018.
Family
The family is a broad sub-order or classification of closely related genus plants. It refers to plants between an order (trees) and a genus (maples). All the maples and soapberry for example, are in the Family Sapindaceae
Genus
The genus refers to closely related and a definable group of plants. For example, all maples are in the genus Acer. Maples such as Acer rubrum and Acer saccharum both have 3 to 5 lobed leaves. Each genus may have several species. The genus will have more plant characteristics in common with each other than they do with other genera in the same family.
Occasionally a genus will have only one species and it is called a monotypic species. There may have been more monotypic species in the ancient past, but today there is only one. Ginkgo biloba is the example. (see the Arborist Dictionary for a complete list of monotyic species in the world today.)
Species
Species is the next lower category of the binomial system of nomenclature, ranking below a genus. A species has distinct features that make it different from other plants in the genus. For example, Acer rubrum refers to all red maples and Acer saccharum refers to all sugar maples.
Variety
Often the subdivision of names can go below species into categories such as variety, cultivar, and hybrid. Varieties refer to individuals displaying slight differences and are inherited by seed in succeeding generations. For example, Gleditsia triacanthos, the common honeylocust, has thorns, while Gleditsia triacanthos variety inermis is the same tree but without thorns.
Clone
A clone is a tree grown from a cutting. Cloned trees grow their own roots and have the exact same genetics as their parent tree. A clone is a genetically identical group of plants originating from a single plant by vegetative propagation. Pando is a clone of Populus tremuloides.
Selections
Selections are usually asexually propagated to maintain a particular plant form. Selections can be created in a variety of ways. For example, they may be taken from parts of the plant which result in a particular growth habit as when prostrate plants are derived from cuttings of lateral branches. Some selections maintain a particular phase of the plants life cycle. For example, many Ficus selections are selected from forms of juvenile leaves that are maintained in a juvenile state. A common source of new selections is aberrant growth such as variegation of leaves.
Hybrid
A hybrid is a man-made cross pollination of two closely related trees to create a new tree. The hybrid may grow with more vigor or pest resistance or have different color flowers or produce larger yields than either parent. Hybrids, which are created sexually, can be either maintained asexually or by seed. An example is Shade Poplar Hybrid, Populus deltoides x populus nigra.
F1 Hybrid
The first generation hybrid made from two pure-bred parents. F1 hybrids, which require to be re-created for each new generation, qualify as cultivars if the cross produces stable, repeatable forms. For example, Chinese chestnut × American chestnut have produced F1 hybrids to obtain a blight resistant American chestnut.
Cultivar
The cultivar is the basic grouping, or taxon for cultivated varieties. The word was coined by Liberty Hyde Bailey in 1923 and is now commonly used. Cultivars are plants raised in cultivation which differ sufficiently from their wild ancestors or if taken into cultivation from the wild they are worthy enough of distinction from wild populations for horticultural purposes to merit special names. Cultivar names are indicated by single quotation marks. For example, Acer rubrum 'Autumn Flame', is a cultivar noted for its intense autumn color.
Plants that can be considered as cultivars include deliberate man-made cross breeding hybrids, accidental hybrids in cultivation, a selection from existing cultivated stock, or a selection from variants within a wild population and maintained as a recognizable entity solely by continued propagation.
A cultivar is an assemblage of plants selected for desirable characteristics that are maintained during propagation. More generally, a cultivar is the most basic classification category of cultivated plants in the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants.
Cultivars are man-made creations or unique selections that cannot be reproduced from seed and must be reproduced by cuttings or grafting and maintained at a nursery. For example, Acer plantanoides 'Crimson King' is the purplish maroon foliage colored version of the green leafed Norway Maple Acer plantanoides. The cultivar name is written with single quotes or the insertion of cv before the cultivar name. For example, Acer plantanoides cv. Crimson King.
Normal forms of plants brought from the wild into cultivation retain the same name (ICBN) and similarly plant forms maintained solely by cultivation practices are not eligible for cultivar status. It is important to note that not all plants in cultivation are cultivars, and not all cultivars are in cultivation.
To complicate matters even more, it is possible to have a cultivar of a hybrid. For example, rubra is the pink flowering form of Cornus florida and 'Cherokee Chief ' is the cultivar of the variety rubra. The tree is called Cornus florida var. rubra 'Cherokee Chief'.
Trademarks and Registered Trees
Trademarks are indicated by ™ and the name is written in capital letters. Trademarks point distinctly to the origin or ownership of the tree to which it is applied and it are legally reserved for the exclusive use of the owner as the originator.
Registered trees are indicated by ® and are produced from a single specific tree and this same tree is used for the production of all additional trees with this registration.
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award .5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the 0.5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Utility, Municipal Specialist, Tree Worker/Climber, Tree Worker/Aerial Lift, or BCMA science credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to Merchant' / gibneyCE.com. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website.
*SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
New York City’s Most Unusual Forest/Park
Edited by Len Phillips
Off of the west side of Manhattan island, sitting above the water of the Hudson River, is a new public park called Little Island. The $260 million project was donated by businessman Barry Diller and it features 2.4 acres of forests, tree-lined pathways, an amphitheater, and a food court. This is no average city park because the entire park is built on top of sculptured concrete columns with “high-heeled-shoes” looking tops that are connected together to allow the creation of a concrete “forest floor”. The forest trees are not skinny saplings secured with stakes into the ground. These trees look as if they have been living on these concrete columns for some time while jutting out and over the Hudson River. If you are confused by this description, look at this photo of the park.
The idea for Little Island began nearly a decade ago, though it just opened to the public at the end of May 2021. Dotted along the concrete “hills and valleys” of Little Island are 114 trees that vary in shape and height, from narrow and tall to squat and stretched out. The result is that the park looks like it has been growing in a real forest.
Instead of the 2 to 4 year old saplings often used to line New York City sidewalks, the trees throughout Little Island are roughly 30 to 50 years old. During the planning of the park, which began in 2015, the designers had to carefully consider the trees that would be crucial to its design. They had already designed a number of parks on waterfronts, so they knew to pick trees with small leaves that are less likely to get shredded by the wind that comes off the water. They also did an inventory of all the trees in the 4-mile-long stretch of park on Manhattan’s west side, adjacent to the Hudson River Park, of which Little Island is one feature. The inventory determined which species were thriving, and those species are the ones growing on Little Island.
Because the park is built on concrete structures that rise above the water, Little Island’s trees are more susceptible to lower temperatures. Some trees on the concrete “hills” have Styrofoam underneath their roots. This was necessary because filling those areas with soil could have been too heavy for the concrete pilings. Other trees are in soil right on top of the concrete slabs. This meant they would be exposed to cold from above and below. Rather than getting trees suitable to New York’s climate zone which is Zone 6 on the hardiness map, the trees that were selected are tolerant of temperatures in Zone 5, which is the climate zone for Albany, New York, 135 miles (217 km) further north.
Little Island’s trees were sourced from nurseries that specialized in large-caliper trees: Halka Nurseries, which has two 1,300-acre farms in southern New Jersey; Ruppert Nurseries, a 600-acre wholesale tree grower in northern Maryland; and Hammell Nurseries, which spans more than 1,000 acres in eastern Pennsylvania. There are 35 species of trees throughout the park, including red oaks, Japanese cedars, October Glory red maples, and zelkova “Green Vase” trees.
Because the trees had to be transported, and because they were already mature with massive root systems, timing for their installation was crucial. The multitude of considerations for every tree included:
Little Island in general is unusual for a public park, since it was privately funded. That funding helped pay for the extravagance of these extra-large tree installations. But even with the splurge on larger trees, they were still a small extravagance compared to the rest of the multi-million-dollar project. Of the $260 million project cost, the plant material cost about $6 million. This includes the 114 trees and the roughly 400 species of shrubs, grasses, vines, and perennials.
The park has helped revitalize what some have called the “once-derelict” west side of Manhattan, where the waterfront was full of industrial ports. Little Island is built on top of the pillars of the former Pier 54, an historic ship port (the Lusitania departed from that pier in 1915). But in recent years the pier fell into disuse, and was further destroyed by Hurricane Sandy in 2012. Plans for Little Island began in 2013, though the building of the park was fraught with many time-consuming legal challenges.
Once the permit roadblocks were passed, there was the actual challenge of building the park, and getting the trees into the “ground” was its own feat. When out of the ground, trees are losing water, which could hurt their chances of survival. One 12-inch-caliper maple weighed roughly 20,000 pounds when it arrived on the site. The next day when it was picked up by crane to be planted, it had lost 6,000 pounds of water weight. If that tree had not been planted immediately, its roots would have dried out and the tree would have died.
The trees were the single-largest investment of the entire landscape, and they are also the most important asset at the site. There’s no doubt getting all those trees onto Little Island was a feat, but there is also no doubt that it was worth it. The landscape is what people experience, see, and smell as they walk through and touch and love this place.
Source
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award .5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the 0.5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Municipal Specialist, or BCMA management, practice credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to Merchant' / gibneyCE.com. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website.
*SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
Edited by Len Phillips
Off of the west side of Manhattan island, sitting above the water of the Hudson River, is a new public park called Little Island. The $260 million project was donated by businessman Barry Diller and it features 2.4 acres of forests, tree-lined pathways, an amphitheater, and a food court. This is no average city park because the entire park is built on top of sculptured concrete columns with “high-heeled-shoes” looking tops that are connected together to allow the creation of a concrete “forest floor”. The forest trees are not skinny saplings secured with stakes into the ground. These trees look as if they have been living on these concrete columns for some time while jutting out and over the Hudson River. If you are confused by this description, look at this photo of the park.
The idea for Little Island began nearly a decade ago, though it just opened to the public at the end of May 2021. Dotted along the concrete “hills and valleys” of Little Island are 114 trees that vary in shape and height, from narrow and tall to squat and stretched out. The result is that the park looks like it has been growing in a real forest.
Instead of the 2 to 4 year old saplings often used to line New York City sidewalks, the trees throughout Little Island are roughly 30 to 50 years old. During the planning of the park, which began in 2015, the designers had to carefully consider the trees that would be crucial to its design. They had already designed a number of parks on waterfronts, so they knew to pick trees with small leaves that are less likely to get shredded by the wind that comes off the water. They also did an inventory of all the trees in the 4-mile-long stretch of park on Manhattan’s west side, adjacent to the Hudson River Park, of which Little Island is one feature. The inventory determined which species were thriving, and those species are the ones growing on Little Island.
Because the park is built on concrete structures that rise above the water, Little Island’s trees are more susceptible to lower temperatures. Some trees on the concrete “hills” have Styrofoam underneath their roots. This was necessary because filling those areas with soil could have been too heavy for the concrete pilings. Other trees are in soil right on top of the concrete slabs. This meant they would be exposed to cold from above and below. Rather than getting trees suitable to New York’s climate zone which is Zone 6 on the hardiness map, the trees that were selected are tolerant of temperatures in Zone 5, which is the climate zone for Albany, New York, 135 miles (217 km) further north.
Little Island’s trees were sourced from nurseries that specialized in large-caliper trees: Halka Nurseries, which has two 1,300-acre farms in southern New Jersey; Ruppert Nurseries, a 600-acre wholesale tree grower in northern Maryland; and Hammell Nurseries, which spans more than 1,000 acres in eastern Pennsylvania. There are 35 species of trees throughout the park, including red oaks, Japanese cedars, October Glory red maples, and zelkova “Green Vase” trees.
Because the trees had to be transported, and because they were already mature with massive root systems, timing for their installation was crucial. The multitude of considerations for every tree included:
- was the tree dug at the right season?
- did it get enough root mass?
- during the time it was put into its burlap bag and the time it got put on the truck, was it well watered?
- how much time was it out of the ground?
- how long did it spend on the truck?
- how long was it between the time the tree is delivered to the site and it was installed in the concrete lined soil bed?
Little Island in general is unusual for a public park, since it was privately funded. That funding helped pay for the extravagance of these extra-large tree installations. But even with the splurge on larger trees, they were still a small extravagance compared to the rest of the multi-million-dollar project. Of the $260 million project cost, the plant material cost about $6 million. This includes the 114 trees and the roughly 400 species of shrubs, grasses, vines, and perennials.
The park has helped revitalize what some have called the “once-derelict” west side of Manhattan, where the waterfront was full of industrial ports. Little Island is built on top of the pillars of the former Pier 54, an historic ship port (the Lusitania departed from that pier in 1915). But in recent years the pier fell into disuse, and was further destroyed by Hurricane Sandy in 2012. Plans for Little Island began in 2013, though the building of the park was fraught with many time-consuming legal challenges.
Once the permit roadblocks were passed, there was the actual challenge of building the park, and getting the trees into the “ground” was its own feat. When out of the ground, trees are losing water, which could hurt their chances of survival. One 12-inch-caliper maple weighed roughly 20,000 pounds when it arrived on the site. The next day when it was picked up by crane to be planted, it had lost 6,000 pounds of water weight. If that tree had not been planted immediately, its roots would have dried out and the tree would have died.
The trees were the single-largest investment of the entire landscape, and they are also the most important asset at the site. There’s no doubt getting all those trees onto Little Island was a feat, but there is also no doubt that it was worth it. The landscape is what people experience, see, and smell as they walk through and touch and love this place.
Source
- Kristin Toussaint, "How the giant trees got to New York’s new island park”, fastcompany.com,
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award .5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the 0.5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Municipal Specialist, or BCMA management, practice credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to Merchant' / gibneyCE.com. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website.
*SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
How to Grow a Suburban Forest
by George Bellamy
Everyone is talking about global warming and how bad it is going to become. But at the same time everyone is asking “What I can do about it?” Here are my answers to that question.
To start with, the last two vehicles I have purchased have been hybrids. I have also replaced all the light bulbs in my office and residence with energy efficient bulbs. To prepare for summer and winter temperatures, I insulated all the outside walls and a double layer above the ceiling in my ranch style house. All of my windows have been replaced with high efficiency products. I cool my house in summer with a big electric, high efficiency, central air conditioner instead of four window a/c units. My heat in winter comes from a state-of-art heating system with the most efficient burner at this time. I get my A/C and heater serviced every year to keep them operating at peak efficiency. And there is one more thing that I did. I grew a forest surrounding my residence and home office. It was not intentional, it just turned out that way. Here is the story about how this came about.
We bought our house new in a typical treeless subdivision 45 years ago. The lot size is 30,000 s. f. (2,800 s. m.). The builder planted one inexpensive (disease prone) crabapple (Malus sp.) in every front yard for beauty (??) and three scrawny weeping willow (Salix babylonica) whips in the back yard for shade (??). The City required a sugar maple (Acer saccharum) tree in the 2 feet (0.6m) wide tree lawn. (I know now this was definitely the wrong tree for this site.) Then the contractor spread loam (?) two inches (5cm) deep for a lawn over the entire lot of compacted gravel. Then he turned it all over to the real estate agent as he got out of town and moved on to his next subdivision.
My wife and I were newly-wed, young and inexperienced, what did we know? As we purchased our new home, we realized we were going to learn a lot about living in suburbia. In our discussions about our dismal yard and lack of landscaping with family members, an uncle indicated that his neighbor had several Colorado blue spruce (Picea pungens) trees he had planted in his yard and he was giving them away to anyone who wanted to dig them up. The uncle and I spent a Saturday digging up one for my house and one for his house. We planted my tree near our house and it took a couple of years for the tree to adjust to the compacted gravel soil. Of course, New England weather is nothing like Colorado weather. The tree has been susceptible to every disease possible, but it continues to grow and it is now over 60 feet (18m) tall. It has become very messy every spring with hundreds of short branchlets and needles that fall all over the yard and house.
I was one of the few people on the street who managed to keep the maple tree in the tree lawn alive and it still struggles to this day. The crabapple in the front yard flowered for a few years before it became so diseased that it could only put out a few flowers and no fruit. Today, it no longer exists.
But there was one success from the builder's efforts. Those willow trees in the backyard did provide some but not a lot of shade, if you did not mind the broken limbs on the lawn after every windy day. And then there are those little black beetles that tormented anyone who sat in the shade under those trees.
A couple years after we moved in, the city had to correct a major problem the developer neglected. No sewerage systems. The septic tanks and drain fields in that compacted gravel were starting to fail everywhere. At issue was an easement running from the front of our house to out the back of the property toward the main line in front of the house behind us. A trench had to be dug 19 feet (6m) deep, 3 feet (1m) from a corner of our house to accommodate the new sanitary sewer line. In addition, the willow trees had to be removed and they took away the only shade in the yard. Fortunately, the construction went well except for the terror we felt with this deep trench so close to the house and we let the contractor know of our concerns. When it was time to replace the weeping willows, I demanded the contractor install three new trees in the back yard to replace the willows that were growing in the easement. I also managed to relocate the smallest of the willows out of harm's way to the other side of the yard. Unfortunately, that willow, while providing some shade for 10 years, did grown to be over 60 feet (18m) high. The tree threatened the house and left piles of branches and leaves on the ground after every windy or rainy day. It was eventually removed.
Getting back to the sewer line, the contractor told me to go to the nursery and select three trees to replace the willows. So, using my “vast knowledge” of trees, I picked out three Greenspire Lindens (Tilia cordata 'PNI 6025' Greenspire™). They were brand new cultivars that promised to grow quickly and develop a beautiful form and provide lots of shade. They were suppose to have a single leader, grow to an average size of 35 ft tall, 20 ft wide (11x6 m), and pyramidal in form. They were suppose to be clean trees and no breaking branches. Just perfect, or so I thought. The contractor planted two of them in the back yard, over the easement and the third one, in the front yard. Today the lindens have grown to become 60 feet (18m) tall with multiple leaders, and a 40 ft (12.5m) spread that is much larger than what was expected when the trees were selected. Plus, the tree is covered with brittle branches and have become very messy with small branches falling all over the yard after every windy day. Today these trees do shade vast areas of the property but they are NOT clean trees. Twigs are falling out of these trees every day and when there is a storm, it is more than just twigs and leaves all over the ground but they do encourage the development of a thick layer of leaves and twigs and because they cast such a heavy shade, nothing, not even grass will grow under their branches. As I stood looking at the mess after one bad storm, I realized a mature tree canopy was beginning to appear on my lawn. Maybe I should spread some mulch around them so I would not have to struggle with trying to grow grass.
A couple of years after we moved in, my conservation minded mother-in-law gave me several Tree City USA sized seedlings for our yard. One was a golden-chain tree (Laburnum anagyroides) that has now grown to its mature size, and a redbud (Cercis canadensis) seedling that has grown to the same height but less in width. A Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) that has grown to be taller and wider than the lindens and has become the favorite home for a family of gray squirrels. The following year came a Metasequoia (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) seedling. A native red oak (Quercus rubra) and a red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) which both came up from seed on their own, (thanks to the local wildlife). The Metasequoia took a while to get started but is now as tall and wide as the other mature trees.
The compacted gravel soil is so hard that the tree roots can not penetrate the gravel. In response, the tree roots have all grown on top of the gravel. This gives the impression that the trees have all been “volcano mulched”, but that is not the case. At least they do give my yard a bit of interest with all the changing elevations around every tree.
Several native white pine (Pinus strobus) seedlings and a red oak sprang up all by themselves. They are now well over 70 feet (21 m) tall with trunk diameters of 3 feet (1m). The pines provide shade for large areas of the property and the lawn can be mowed in 15 minutes. Several rhododendrons (Rhododendron maximum) are growing around the house and among the pines. The rhodies and a dense row of forsythia (Forsythia x intermedia 'Spectabilis') that I planted around the property line right after we moved in, have formed an 8 feet (2.4 m) tall and 8 feet thick barrier of vegetation, that visually isolates us from our neighbors better than the stockade fences the neighbors installed.
In a corner of the yard, we planted a white pine seedling to honor the birth of our first child, beside a hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) seedling to honor the birth of our second child and a balsam fir (Abies balsamea) seedling to honor our third child. The white pine soon grew large enough to develop cones and several other pine trees have sprung up nearby. Today all these trees are over 60 feet (18m) tall. One of these pines has a very large trunk so I tried to put my arms around it to give the tree a hug, but I did not even make it half way around.
A friend had a vacant lot and decided to plant it with future Christmas trees. He gave me a red pine (Pinus resinosa) about 4 feet (1.2m) tall that got into his balsam (Abies balsamea) tree stand by accident. I planted it at front corner of the lot where nothing else was growing. That tree grew beautifully every year and dropped lots of cones for the squirrels. Then last year a yellow-bellied sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) moved into the neighborhood and made a row of holes a half inch (1cm) apart all around the poor red pine. Six months later the tree was dead and had to be removed.
The crabapple in the front yard eventually died from several diseases and I replaced it with a Venus dogwood (Cornus × elwinortonii) as a bare root sapling the year it was introduced. It has now matured at 25 feet (7.5 m) tall and wide and every spring, the tree is completely covered with large creamy white bracts (flowers) that the neighbors all rave about. The bracts are open for a month and are the size of my hand from finger tip to finger tip. It commands the front yard in the only spot where there were no trees growing. My newspaper was late one morning recently because the delivery person was our yard with a camera, walking all around my Venus filming it from all sides.
Over the years, I also developed shrub and perennial gardens. Because of the increasing amount of shade, I had to start growing hostas and before I finished, I had over 450 different named varieties of hostas growing everywhere around the shady yard.
It is now 45 years since we bought our house. As I was walking around the yard yesterday, I suddenly realized that I live in a man-made arboretum/forest. I went to Google Earth and focused on my neighborhood. I found my house, surrounded by a forest. This confirmed what I feel every day as I walk around the house and admire my home-grown plants and trees. It is my cool escape from the summer heat and my contribution to slowing climate change.
So, if you want to do your share to combat global warming, go get some seedlings or small trees and grow your own forest as you landscape your yard and encourage your friends and neighbors to do the same. Do it today!!
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award .5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the 0.5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Utility, Municipal Specialist, Tree Worker/Climber, Tree Worker/Aerial Lift, or BCMA management, practice credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to Merchant' / gibneyCE.com. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website.
*SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
by George Bellamy
Everyone is talking about global warming and how bad it is going to become. But at the same time everyone is asking “What I can do about it?” Here are my answers to that question.
To start with, the last two vehicles I have purchased have been hybrids. I have also replaced all the light bulbs in my office and residence with energy efficient bulbs. To prepare for summer and winter temperatures, I insulated all the outside walls and a double layer above the ceiling in my ranch style house. All of my windows have been replaced with high efficiency products. I cool my house in summer with a big electric, high efficiency, central air conditioner instead of four window a/c units. My heat in winter comes from a state-of-art heating system with the most efficient burner at this time. I get my A/C and heater serviced every year to keep them operating at peak efficiency. And there is one more thing that I did. I grew a forest surrounding my residence and home office. It was not intentional, it just turned out that way. Here is the story about how this came about.
We bought our house new in a typical treeless subdivision 45 years ago. The lot size is 30,000 s. f. (2,800 s. m.). The builder planted one inexpensive (disease prone) crabapple (Malus sp.) in every front yard for beauty (??) and three scrawny weeping willow (Salix babylonica) whips in the back yard for shade (??). The City required a sugar maple (Acer saccharum) tree in the 2 feet (0.6m) wide tree lawn. (I know now this was definitely the wrong tree for this site.) Then the contractor spread loam (?) two inches (5cm) deep for a lawn over the entire lot of compacted gravel. Then he turned it all over to the real estate agent as he got out of town and moved on to his next subdivision.
My wife and I were newly-wed, young and inexperienced, what did we know? As we purchased our new home, we realized we were going to learn a lot about living in suburbia. In our discussions about our dismal yard and lack of landscaping with family members, an uncle indicated that his neighbor had several Colorado blue spruce (Picea pungens) trees he had planted in his yard and he was giving them away to anyone who wanted to dig them up. The uncle and I spent a Saturday digging up one for my house and one for his house. We planted my tree near our house and it took a couple of years for the tree to adjust to the compacted gravel soil. Of course, New England weather is nothing like Colorado weather. The tree has been susceptible to every disease possible, but it continues to grow and it is now over 60 feet (18m) tall. It has become very messy every spring with hundreds of short branchlets and needles that fall all over the yard and house.
I was one of the few people on the street who managed to keep the maple tree in the tree lawn alive and it still struggles to this day. The crabapple in the front yard flowered for a few years before it became so diseased that it could only put out a few flowers and no fruit. Today, it no longer exists.
But there was one success from the builder's efforts. Those willow trees in the backyard did provide some but not a lot of shade, if you did not mind the broken limbs on the lawn after every windy day. And then there are those little black beetles that tormented anyone who sat in the shade under those trees.
A couple years after we moved in, the city had to correct a major problem the developer neglected. No sewerage systems. The septic tanks and drain fields in that compacted gravel were starting to fail everywhere. At issue was an easement running from the front of our house to out the back of the property toward the main line in front of the house behind us. A trench had to be dug 19 feet (6m) deep, 3 feet (1m) from a corner of our house to accommodate the new sanitary sewer line. In addition, the willow trees had to be removed and they took away the only shade in the yard. Fortunately, the construction went well except for the terror we felt with this deep trench so close to the house and we let the contractor know of our concerns. When it was time to replace the weeping willows, I demanded the contractor install three new trees in the back yard to replace the willows that were growing in the easement. I also managed to relocate the smallest of the willows out of harm's way to the other side of the yard. Unfortunately, that willow, while providing some shade for 10 years, did grown to be over 60 feet (18m) high. The tree threatened the house and left piles of branches and leaves on the ground after every windy or rainy day. It was eventually removed.
Getting back to the sewer line, the contractor told me to go to the nursery and select three trees to replace the willows. So, using my “vast knowledge” of trees, I picked out three Greenspire Lindens (Tilia cordata 'PNI 6025' Greenspire™). They were brand new cultivars that promised to grow quickly and develop a beautiful form and provide lots of shade. They were suppose to have a single leader, grow to an average size of 35 ft tall, 20 ft wide (11x6 m), and pyramidal in form. They were suppose to be clean trees and no breaking branches. Just perfect, or so I thought. The contractor planted two of them in the back yard, over the easement and the third one, in the front yard. Today the lindens have grown to become 60 feet (18m) tall with multiple leaders, and a 40 ft (12.5m) spread that is much larger than what was expected when the trees were selected. Plus, the tree is covered with brittle branches and have become very messy with small branches falling all over the yard after every windy day. Today these trees do shade vast areas of the property but they are NOT clean trees. Twigs are falling out of these trees every day and when there is a storm, it is more than just twigs and leaves all over the ground but they do encourage the development of a thick layer of leaves and twigs and because they cast such a heavy shade, nothing, not even grass will grow under their branches. As I stood looking at the mess after one bad storm, I realized a mature tree canopy was beginning to appear on my lawn. Maybe I should spread some mulch around them so I would not have to struggle with trying to grow grass.
A couple of years after we moved in, my conservation minded mother-in-law gave me several Tree City USA sized seedlings for our yard. One was a golden-chain tree (Laburnum anagyroides) that has now grown to its mature size, and a redbud (Cercis canadensis) seedling that has grown to the same height but less in width. A Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) that has grown to be taller and wider than the lindens and has become the favorite home for a family of gray squirrels. The following year came a Metasequoia (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) seedling. A native red oak (Quercus rubra) and a red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) which both came up from seed on their own, (thanks to the local wildlife). The Metasequoia took a while to get started but is now as tall and wide as the other mature trees.
The compacted gravel soil is so hard that the tree roots can not penetrate the gravel. In response, the tree roots have all grown on top of the gravel. This gives the impression that the trees have all been “volcano mulched”, but that is not the case. At least they do give my yard a bit of interest with all the changing elevations around every tree.
Several native white pine (Pinus strobus) seedlings and a red oak sprang up all by themselves. They are now well over 70 feet (21 m) tall with trunk diameters of 3 feet (1m). The pines provide shade for large areas of the property and the lawn can be mowed in 15 minutes. Several rhododendrons (Rhododendron maximum) are growing around the house and among the pines. The rhodies and a dense row of forsythia (Forsythia x intermedia 'Spectabilis') that I planted around the property line right after we moved in, have formed an 8 feet (2.4 m) tall and 8 feet thick barrier of vegetation, that visually isolates us from our neighbors better than the stockade fences the neighbors installed.
In a corner of the yard, we planted a white pine seedling to honor the birth of our first child, beside a hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) seedling to honor the birth of our second child and a balsam fir (Abies balsamea) seedling to honor our third child. The white pine soon grew large enough to develop cones and several other pine trees have sprung up nearby. Today all these trees are over 60 feet (18m) tall. One of these pines has a very large trunk so I tried to put my arms around it to give the tree a hug, but I did not even make it half way around.
A friend had a vacant lot and decided to plant it with future Christmas trees. He gave me a red pine (Pinus resinosa) about 4 feet (1.2m) tall that got into his balsam (Abies balsamea) tree stand by accident. I planted it at front corner of the lot where nothing else was growing. That tree grew beautifully every year and dropped lots of cones for the squirrels. Then last year a yellow-bellied sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) moved into the neighborhood and made a row of holes a half inch (1cm) apart all around the poor red pine. Six months later the tree was dead and had to be removed.
The crabapple in the front yard eventually died from several diseases and I replaced it with a Venus dogwood (Cornus × elwinortonii) as a bare root sapling the year it was introduced. It has now matured at 25 feet (7.5 m) tall and wide and every spring, the tree is completely covered with large creamy white bracts (flowers) that the neighbors all rave about. The bracts are open for a month and are the size of my hand from finger tip to finger tip. It commands the front yard in the only spot where there were no trees growing. My newspaper was late one morning recently because the delivery person was our yard with a camera, walking all around my Venus filming it from all sides.
Over the years, I also developed shrub and perennial gardens. Because of the increasing amount of shade, I had to start growing hostas and before I finished, I had over 450 different named varieties of hostas growing everywhere around the shady yard.
It is now 45 years since we bought our house. As I was walking around the yard yesterday, I suddenly realized that I live in a man-made arboretum/forest. I went to Google Earth and focused on my neighborhood. I found my house, surrounded by a forest. This confirmed what I feel every day as I walk around the house and admire my home-grown plants and trees. It is my cool escape from the summer heat and my contribution to slowing climate change.
So, if you want to do your share to combat global warming, go get some seedlings or small trees and grow your own forest as you landscape your yard and encourage your friends and neighbors to do the same. Do it today!!
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award .5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the 0.5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Utility, Municipal Specialist, Tree Worker/Climber, Tree Worker/Aerial Lift, or BCMA management, practice credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to Merchant' / gibneyCE.com. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website.
*SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
Elements in the Soil
By Len Phillips
What do the various elements in soil do to help the trees?
Aluminum (Al) will enhance tree growth because it increases antioxidant enzyme activity. This enzyme activity in turn increases root and shoot growth, and prevents iron (Fe) toxicity.
Boron (B) helps trees with the use of nutrients and aids in the production of sugar and carbohydrates. Boron is also essential for seed and fruit development.
Calcium (Ca) participates in enzymatic and hormonal processes as well as in metabolic processes with other nutrients while promoting proper tree cell elongation. Calcium is also an essential part of the tree cell wall by forming calcium pectate compounds which give strength and stability to cell walls and bind the cells together. Because calcium improves the stomata function it helps protect the tree against heat stress. Calcium helps in protecting the tree against diseases such as numerous fungi and bacteria secret enzymes which impair tree cell walls. Stronger cell walls, induced by calcium, can avoid the invasion.
Chlorine (Cl) as compounded chloride, is necessary for osmosis and ionic balance; it also plays a role in photosynthesis.
Cobalt (Co) increases growth, nodule number and weight, tree nutrient levels, as well as seed pod yield and seed quality.
Copper (Cu) is important for reproductive growth. It aids in root metabolism and helps in the utilization of proteins.
Iron (Fe) plays a role in energy transfer within the tree through chlorophyll development and function. It is a constituent of certain enzymes and proteins. It is involved in nitrogen fixation and functions in tree respiration and tree metabolism.
Magnesium (Mg) aids in photosynthesis and is the central element of the chlorophyll molecule. It is also a carrier of phosphorus in the tree and assists with nutrient uptake control and increases iron utilization.
Manganese (Mn) functions with enzyme systems involved in breakdown of carbohydrates, and nitrogen metabolism.
Molybdenum (Mo) helps in the use of nitrogen.
Potassium (K) is absorbed by trees in larger amounts than any other mineral element except nitrogen and, in some cases, calcium. Potassium helps in the building of protein, photosynthesis, fruit quality and reduction of diseases.
Sodium (Na) is a beneficial element for tree growth, affects stomatal movement, leading to an overall higher leaf water status, and improving water use efficiency.
Nickel (Ni) is required to make the enzymes function so that the nitrogen circulation can continue.
Nitrogen (N) is a part of all living cells and is a necessary part of all proteins, enzymes and metabolic processes involved in the synthesis and transfer of energy. Nitrogen is also a part of chlorophyll, the green pigment of the tree leaf that is responsible for photosynthesis. It also helps trees with rapid growth, increasing seed and fruit production, and improving the quality of leaf and forage crops.
Phosphorus (P) is an essential part of the process of photosynthesis. It is involved in the formation of all oils, sugars, starches, etc. It also helps with the transformation of solar energy into chemical energy; proper tree maturation; and withstanding stress. Phosphorus also effects rapid growth and encourages blooming and root growth.
Sulfur (S) improves the production of vegetable proteins and amino acids and has a beneficial effect on the water balance.
Silica/Silicon (Si) reinforces cell walls by the deposition of solid silica. It also improves insect resistance (such as suppression of stem borers, leaf spider mites, and various hoppers) and suppresses tree diseases caused by bacteria and fungi (such as mildew). It alleviates various environmental stresses (this includes drought, temperature extremes, freezing, UV irradiation) and chemical stresses (including salt, heavy metals, and nutrient imbalances). Silica provides direct stimulation of tree growth through more upright growth and tree rigidity.
Zinc (Zn) is essential for the transformation of carbohydrates, regulates consumption of sugars, and is part of the enzyme systems which regulate tree growth.
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award .5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the 0.5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Utility, Municipal Specialist, Tree Worker/Climber, Tree Worker/Aerial Lift, or BCMA science credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to Merchant' / gibneyCE.com. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website.
*SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
By Len Phillips
What do the various elements in soil do to help the trees?
Aluminum (Al) will enhance tree growth because it increases antioxidant enzyme activity. This enzyme activity in turn increases root and shoot growth, and prevents iron (Fe) toxicity.
Boron (B) helps trees with the use of nutrients and aids in the production of sugar and carbohydrates. Boron is also essential for seed and fruit development.
Calcium (Ca) participates in enzymatic and hormonal processes as well as in metabolic processes with other nutrients while promoting proper tree cell elongation. Calcium is also an essential part of the tree cell wall by forming calcium pectate compounds which give strength and stability to cell walls and bind the cells together. Because calcium improves the stomata function it helps protect the tree against heat stress. Calcium helps in protecting the tree against diseases such as numerous fungi and bacteria secret enzymes which impair tree cell walls. Stronger cell walls, induced by calcium, can avoid the invasion.
Chlorine (Cl) as compounded chloride, is necessary for osmosis and ionic balance; it also plays a role in photosynthesis.
Cobalt (Co) increases growth, nodule number and weight, tree nutrient levels, as well as seed pod yield and seed quality.
Copper (Cu) is important for reproductive growth. It aids in root metabolism and helps in the utilization of proteins.
Iron (Fe) plays a role in energy transfer within the tree through chlorophyll development and function. It is a constituent of certain enzymes and proteins. It is involved in nitrogen fixation and functions in tree respiration and tree metabolism.
Magnesium (Mg) aids in photosynthesis and is the central element of the chlorophyll molecule. It is also a carrier of phosphorus in the tree and assists with nutrient uptake control and increases iron utilization.
Manganese (Mn) functions with enzyme systems involved in breakdown of carbohydrates, and nitrogen metabolism.
Molybdenum (Mo) helps in the use of nitrogen.
Potassium (K) is absorbed by trees in larger amounts than any other mineral element except nitrogen and, in some cases, calcium. Potassium helps in the building of protein, photosynthesis, fruit quality and reduction of diseases.
Sodium (Na) is a beneficial element for tree growth, affects stomatal movement, leading to an overall higher leaf water status, and improving water use efficiency.
Nickel (Ni) is required to make the enzymes function so that the nitrogen circulation can continue.
Nitrogen (N) is a part of all living cells and is a necessary part of all proteins, enzymes and metabolic processes involved in the synthesis and transfer of energy. Nitrogen is also a part of chlorophyll, the green pigment of the tree leaf that is responsible for photosynthesis. It also helps trees with rapid growth, increasing seed and fruit production, and improving the quality of leaf and forage crops.
Phosphorus (P) is an essential part of the process of photosynthesis. It is involved in the formation of all oils, sugars, starches, etc. It also helps with the transformation of solar energy into chemical energy; proper tree maturation; and withstanding stress. Phosphorus also effects rapid growth and encourages blooming and root growth.
Sulfur (S) improves the production of vegetable proteins and amino acids and has a beneficial effect on the water balance.
Silica/Silicon (Si) reinforces cell walls by the deposition of solid silica. It also improves insect resistance (such as suppression of stem borers, leaf spider mites, and various hoppers) and suppresses tree diseases caused by bacteria and fungi (such as mildew). It alleviates various environmental stresses (this includes drought, temperature extremes, freezing, UV irradiation) and chemical stresses (including salt, heavy metals, and nutrient imbalances). Silica provides direct stimulation of tree growth through more upright growth and tree rigidity.
Zinc (Zn) is essential for the transformation of carbohydrates, regulates consumption of sugars, and is part of the enzyme systems which regulate tree growth.
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award .5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the 0.5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Utility, Municipal Specialist, Tree Worker/Climber, Tree Worker/Aerial Lift, or BCMA science credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to Merchant' / gibneyCE.com. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website.
*SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.