By Richard Newton, head grounds supervisor
SUNY Fredonia takes pride in the vast number and variety of trees found on the campus.
Trees have always been a focal point for photographers, from spring when the flowers are blooming to fall when the leaves are changing and even to the cold winter mornings after a sticky evening snowfall blankets the bare limbs and the evergreens.
That should come as no surprise, given the first settlers found Western New York to be rich in timber forests.
Over 1,800 trees, representing more than 30 different varieties – not counting those in the woodlots and “wild” areas – were identified in a 2010 tree survey of the campus.
Most are native to the region, with an abundance of honey locusts, oaks, beech, hickory and walnuts, sycamore, and maple varieties. Many are non-native, like the zelkovas around Jewett Hall, the ginkgoes near the Science Center, a few Chinese kousa dogwood and Japanese maple specimens found around campus, along with the perennial favorite for its pink blooms, the Japanese kwanzan cherries that line many streets and parking lots.
Some of the oldest and largest trees in Fredonia, NY, are found on campus property.
The majestic, and sometimes messy, black walnuts situated along Temple Street near the residence halls and in Dods Grove are some of the oldest and largest of that variety in the area.
There are several white pines and hemlocks in the campus woodlot off of Ring Road that are also some of the largest of their species found in the region. Of course, everyone was a big fan of the old copper beech that was in front of the Fenner House on Central Avenue, which, due to its age, finally succumbed to decay this past summer.
Some of the older trees, and certain varieties, have become threatened by invasive species over the past 10 years.
The Emerald Ash Borer has wiped out almost the entire ash population in the Northeastern U.S. The ones on campus were treated several years ago to help prolong their life, and with some it helped, but it is only a matter of time until those are gone.
Another pest the Facilities Services-Grounds Landscaping is dealing with is the Hemlock Wooley Adelgid, which is a type of aphid that feeds on hemlock trees. The New York State Department of Conservation is working with the campus on monitoring and finding ways to eliminate this insect
The grounds landscaping crew is closely monitoring the movement of the Spotted Lantern Fly as well, which has not arrived here yet, but is slowly moving its way here. The potential for problems with this pest could be quite devastating to the region’s hardwoods and fruit crops.
Due to the loss of the Ash population, as well as some trees due to age, the campus does work to plant a few trees every year in the spring. The campus tries to find trees that are native, or at least not a type that is on a list of potentially threatened varieties, when selecting new trees.
Several sweetgum trees were planted around Symphony Circle in 2020, along with some Eastern redbuds, and Gingko trees around campus. When the campus has construction projects going on, workers try to do their best to maneuver around existing large trees and to protect them, and to plant replacements if any do get removed.
There is a plan to plant a new beech tree in the area near the one lost at the Fenner House, as well as putting together a storyboard about the one that was lost, which possibly dated back to the 1700s.
So, the time has come to be out enjoying the cooling weather, the changing seasons and the bright colors that come with it. Work is ongoing in the woodlot trails, to keep them up for campus and community use. Enjoy the journey and the view, and always remember, “Leaves of Three, Let Them Be.”
