The Story Behind the Trees
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Description
Special for Arbor Day, begin your tour at the Daweswood House or History Center and learn the unique stories regarding trees located on the North End.
1. The Daweswood House Museum and History Center
The Daweswood House Museum displays 19th and 20th century antiques and memorabilia from four of the Dawes Family’s five homes. The “Rathskeller” in the lower level of the house displays the shovels used by the notable men and women who dedicated trees at The Arboretum, the earliest of whom initialed the Rathskeller ceiling with soot from a burning candle.
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2. Swamp White Oak
The Swamp white oak, Quercus bicolor, is a native tree to Ohio and is very common throughout the Midwest. They prefer direct sunlight and grow best in wet soil. When compared to other oaks, the Swamp White Oak’s leaves have a greater difference in leaf color from front to back. This Swamp White Oak was acquired by The Dawes Arboretum in 1941. Many of our Swamp White Oaks were acquired by The Arboretum from the Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station in Wooster, Ohio by Edmund Secrest, the first State Forester of Ohio.
3. Prairie Sentinel pond cypress
This Prairie Sentinel Pond cypress, Taxodium ascendens, was originally planted in 1973 and its surrounding trees were grown from this original through grafts in 1996. The Prairie Sentinel was first observed by Earl Culley in 1968, which grew in southeastern Illinois. Our specimen was acquired from Culley’s nursey in Illinois. This tree differs from the Bald Cypress as it does not produce knees, even though they still require the same water requirements. The ornamental value of the Prairie Sentinel was noted by the Arnold Arboretum where its hardiness was studied for inclusion in northern arboretums.
4. Weeping Canadian Hemlock
The Canada Hemlock has many varieties that are on display at The Arboretum, with forty-nine varieties being accessioned. These specimens, four Weeping Canadian Hemlocks, were originally acquired in 1939. Ohio is included in their native range, spanning from Canada through the eastern United States and down the Appalachian Mountains. The Weeping Canadian Hemlock grows between 10 to fifteen feet tall with its branches drooping down, creating a natural flowing pattern in its branches. It can be planted by itself for display or in groupings, creating a full ornamental piece.
5. Black Walnut
The black walnut, Juglans nigra, is one of the most common trees in Ohio, both naturally occurring and planted. Many black walnuts are planted by our squirrel population as they leave their nuts in the winter, leading to scattered populations. Black walnuts prefer open sunlight and produce a toxin called juglone that reduces competition from ground level plants. The black walnut fruits have long been used in staining materials, and the wood is often used for timber.
