V o l u m e 2 | A P R I l 2 0 1 3

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T h e N e w p o r T T r e e S o c i e T y

nnualN e w p o r tr b o r e t u m

T h e N e w p o r T T r e e S o c i e T y

B o a r d o f d i r e c T o r S

Lilly dick, PresidentJean Gorham, Vice PresidentTimothy Brown, Treasurerrobert currierharry eudenbachpamela GilpinLisa Lewis

N o N -v o T i N G o f f i c e r S

Kristyn woodland, Secretary

N e w p o r T a r B o r e T u m a d v i S o r y B o a r d

John campaniniJeffrey curtis

Thomas dupreeSusan Gordon, phd

Brian maynard, phd martin van hof

Scott wheeler

c o N T e N T S

end of a Gilded age for the european Beech .......................12012 Newport public Street Tree inventory ..........................4So you admire the european Beech? ....................................7Notable Newport Trees The dove Tree ................................12Newport Tree planting programs ........................................16Newport Tree walks ............................................................19Focus on Restoration The chalet: a Jewel restored .............22 Tree Tagging program .........................................................252012 financial Summary .....................................................26friends of the Newport arboretum .....................................27

Four majestic european beeches were lost in Aquidneck Park this past fall and winter. This edition of the Newport Arboretum Annual is dedicated to Fagus sylvatica, Newport’s signature Gilded Age tree, now in crisis.

Four majestic european beeches were lost in Aquidneck Park this past fall and winter. This edition of the Newport Arboretum Annual is dedicated to Fagus sylvatica, Newport’s signature Gilded Age tree, now in crisis.

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end of a long gilded

age for the european

beech?In the fall of 2012, when a Gilded age

era beech in aquidneck park was left awkwardly standing between the ten-

nis courts and The hut, completely shorn of its canopy, not a murmur was heard. Battered bark and sparse leaves had left it obvious to one and all that the tree was on its deathbed, and city foresters

were only doing their job. The bare trunk awaited final removal once the ground

was well-frozen. however, the next beech tar-

geted for removal by the depart-ment of forestry caused a ripple of remarks and protests. Let-ters, emails and website com-ments questioned the neces-sity of razing such a majestic tree. yes, it was old, and yes,

its bark was peeling; but it had leafed out that summer (not fully,

and the leaves were small and somewhat spare, but surely there had been leaves). couldn’t it have been left to stand a few more years?

Scott wheeler, the city Tree war-den had expected the protests. it would have been alarming, in fact, to hear no response to the loss of an historic speci-men tree in the heart of a well-loved city park. he did his best to explain through a preemptive series of press releases and emails, but still, public affront at the loss

Weeping, fernleaf, copper or green, the demise of the european beech will impact our streetscapes dramatically.

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The following letter, originally written by our Tree Warden and Building & Grounds Supervisor in response to the questions of a local reporter, addressed the loss of the 2011 Tree of the Year in Aquidneck Park:

“The european beech tree died of a root pathogen called phytophthora that is killing mature beech trees across the city. The Newport Tree Society secured funding to have the tree treated with a product called Agri-Fos to try to slow the progression of the disease but last year’s wet spring ap-pears to have been the final straw for this specimen tree.

To avoid damage to the park turf we are trying to remove the tree when the ground is frozen so this recent warm spell will delay the completion. Note this is one of three beech trees we are in the process of taking down in Aquidneck Park. We have removed everything but the trunk of a very tall beech that was an imminent hazard to the martin Recreation Center and the Pop Flack tennis courts. The last one is also in the center of the park just to the south of the “Tree of the Year.” It has lost 90% of its canopy and will need to come down.

one troubling trend we noticed in Hurricane Sandy is that a number of beech trees with this root disease completely pulled out of the ground. It is very important that property owners remove beech trees that have died or show signs of major structural root loss for public safety. As Tree Warden I have notified a number of property owners that their dead beech trees must be removed because it threatens a public right-of-way.

We have known for some time these trees were declining and have installed a “shadow” plant-ing of beech trees to get a head start. The largest planting occurred in April of 2000 for Arbor Day as a memorial planting for Senator John Chafee dedicated by then Senator lincoln Chafee. once the trees are completely down we will evaluate the need for additional trees but we want to provide enough room between the beech trees to insure each can develop a full open canopy.”

- Scott Wheeler, Newport Buildings & Grounds Supervisor

of such a tree is only right and not to be stopped entirely.

Two weeks later, on January 21st dur-ing a winter storm, a towering neighbor of the two lost trees fell, just scraping the edward King house. This third aquid-neck park beech had not been slated for removal, and its sudden, dramatic end was astonishing and newsworthy.

as if questions had not been suf-ficiently answered, an early february snowstorm saw yet another beech fall in the park. Three specimen beeches gone, and one more scheduled for removal, all within two short seasons. The european beech, failing suddenly and dramatically

across the northeast, has its case study right here in aquidneck park.

unusual weather over the past several years has contributed to unexpected loss-es across several genera of trees, as certain plant pathogens and pests have thrived during alternating periods of uncommon rainfall and drought. General systemic stress from these weather trends (and extreme events such as hurricane Sandy) has also taken a toll on our trees. our european beech population has been the canary in the coal mine.

root pathogens and secondary pests and infections at fault in this troubling trend have become the subject of intense

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study by many concerned arborists and plant pathologists such as dr. George hudler at cornell university who is working on prevention and therapy for ailing european beeches, and dr. Bruce fraedrich, vice president of research at the Bartlett Tree research Laboratories.

it is of special note that the second beech lost in aquidneck park was the recently crowned 2011 Tree of the year. in just a little over a year, its precipitous decline brought it from prize-winning status to an unfortunate target for forest-ers who must protect residents as well as trees.

These losses are a stark and sober re-minder to our community that we cannot take the health of our city’s tree canopy for granted. Our rich arboreal heritage must be actively preserved and consistently renewed. as pointed out in the article highlighting

the landscape restoration at The chalet, a gap in tree planting during the first half of the twentieth century, common across Newport, holds ramifications that are becoming increasingly clear. The inevi-table loss of Gilded age era trees is now leaving gaping holes in our forest canopy with small, young trees bravely taking a deep breath and assuming roles for which they are not quite ready.

we ask all Newporters to join us as the Newport Tree Society, the Newport Tree & open Space commission, and the Newport division of forestry work with citizens to undertake the steady planting and maintenance necessary to bequeath a healthy urban forest to the next genera-tion. one that is not simply adequate, but world-class—not just a pleasant green canopy, but a jaw-dropping, awe-inspir-ing model of a citywide arboretum. n

City Forester Charlie Ridolph and friends enjoy a tree walk in morton Park during Newport Arboretum Week 2012.

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2 0 1 2 N e w p o r t p u b L I C S t r e e t t r e e

inventoryIn 2012, the Newport Tree Society

and the city of Newport’s division of forestry commissioned the first

of a two-part inventory and evaluation of the current condition of Newport’s public trees.

a successful urban forestry program requires a combination of organized leadership, comprehensive information about the tree population, dedicated personnel, and an engaged and in-volved citizenry. This ongoing invento-ry is an invaluable piece to this puzzle, establishing a comprehensive data set for the effective management of one of our most valuable resources.

in January of 2012, a GiS-based survey of all public street trees within the city limits of Newport was con-ducted by davey Trees, inc.. major funding for this project was provided by the helen walker raleigh Tree care Trust, with additional support provided by the members and donors of the Newport Tree Society.

project specifications initially al-lowed for the survey of 4,500 trees, stumps, and planting sites, but addi-tional funding was provided near the end of the project to ensure all streets would be inventoried.

The second series of funding allowed the survey of an additional 1,225 sites, allowing the completion of all streets and two small parks off Broadway. The completed inventory included a total of 5,757 trees, stumps, and planting sites.

information gleaned through the survey includes species composition, condition, and maintenance actions. The inventory indentified 110 species of street tree, representing 60 genera. ma-jor populations (by genus) include:

Acer (maple) 26% Quercus (oak) 11% Prunus (cherry) 10% Tilia (linden) 7% Platanus (planetree) 7% Pyrus (pear), 5% Thuja (arborvitae) 4% ulmus (elm) 4% Zelkova (zelkova) 3%- Fraxinus (ash) 2%

medium-sized trees with a diameter at breast height (dBh) of 7” to 24” represent a dominant 63% of the total tree population, while 11% percent of the inventoried trees are considered large, with a dBh of 25” and greater.

a vast majority of the trees (78%) were found to be in fair condition (with only 5 trees qualifying for the designation of ‘very Good’). over 4,000 trees were found to be in need of pruning and cleaning.

232 trees (5%) are recommended for re-moval, with 217 receiving ratings of a moderate to high/extremely high level of failure. recommended tree and stump removal sites combined with other identified tree planting sites leave us with a total of 1,029 sites available for tree planting in the future. There is much work ahead of us! n

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572  719  

1587  

1055  

584  

310  

127   63   57  

0  

200  

400  

600  

800  

1000  

1200  

1400  

1600  

1800  

1-­‐3   4-­‐6   7-­‐12   13-­‐18   19-­‐24   25-­‐30   31-­‐36   37-­‐42   43+  

1 8 0 0

1 6 0 0

1 4 0 0

1 2 0 0

1 0 0 0

8 0 0

6 0 0

4 0 0

2 0 0

0

1-3 4-6 7-12 13-18 19-24 25-30 31-36 37-42 43+

DBH in Inches

NEWPORT STREET TREE Tree Size Measured by DBH (Diameter at Breast Height)

Num

ber o

f Tre

es Number of Trees

3111  

942  683   675  

232   114  

0  

500  

1000  

1500  

2000  

2500  

3000  

3500  

Large  Tree  Clean   Small  Tree  Clean   Plant  Tree   Young  Tree  Train   Removal   Stump  Removal  

3111

942683 675

232 114

Clean Clean Plant Train Remove Remove Large Tree Small Tree Tree Young Tree Tree Stump

3 5 0 0

3 0 0 0

2 5 0 0

2 0 0 0

1 5 0 0

1 0 0 0

5 0 0

0

NEWPORT STREET TREE PRIMARY MAINTENANCE NEEDS

Number of Trees

5  201  

3859  

867  

14   14  

797  

0  

500  

1000  

1500  

2000  

2500  

3000  

3500  

4000  

4500  

Very  Good   Good   Fair   Poor   Cri8cal   Dead   N/A  

4 0 0 0

3 5 0 0

3 0 0 0

2 5 0 0

2 0 0 0

1 5 0 0

1 0 0 0

5 0 0

0

Very Good Good Fair Poor Critical Dead N/A

5201

3859

867

14 14

797

NEWPORT STREET TREE GENERAL CONDITION

Number of Trees

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358  

304  

132  108  

41   34   24   15   11  

0  

50  

100  

150  

200  

250  

300  

350  

400  

Poor  Structure  

Cavity  or  Decay  

Mechanical  Damage  

Improperly  Pruned  

Poor  Root  System  

Poor  LocaCon  

Grate  or  Guard  

Serious  Decline  

Remove  Hardware  

Count  

NEWPORT STREET TREE SPECIFIC CONDITIONS NOTED

4 0 0

3 5 0

3 0 0

2 5 0

2 0 0

1 5 0

1 0 0

5 0

0

358

304

132108

41 34 24 15 11

Poor Cavity or Mechanical Improperly Poor Root Poor Grate or Serious Remove Structure Decay Damage Pruned System Location Guard Decline Hardware

Number of Trees

COMMON NAME COUNT

Maple, Norway 660Planetree, London 324Oak, English 295Pear, Callery 265Maple, Red 242Cherry/Plum, spp. 239Maple, Sycamore 233Linden, American 202Oak, Pin 199Arborvitae, Eastern 194Linden, Littleleaf 158Cherry, Japanese 154Zelkova, Japanese 148Elm, Siberian 116Honeylocust, Thornless 106Maple, Japanese 103Ash, Green 102Crabapple, Flowering 98Cherry, Black 90Dogwood, Kousa 56Horsechestnut 50Maple, Sugar 43Spruce, Colorado 40Sweetgum, American 38Hornbeam, American 37Juniper, spp. 37Beech, American 35Spruce, White 29Japanese Pagodatree 28Lilac, Japanese Tree 27Cedar, Red 26Catalpa, Northern 23Hawthorn, spp. 23Dogwood, Flowering 25Elm, hybrid 22

Elm, American 20Elm, Chinese 20Tuliptree 19Aspen, Quaking 18Hackberry, Common 18Ginkgo 17Pine, Austrian 17Cryptomeria, Japanese 16Pine, Eastern White 15Cypress, Leyland 14Oak, Northern Red 14Willow, Black 14Birch, Paper 13Locust, Black 12Dogwood, Pagoda 11Maple, Amur 11Ash, European 10Birch, River 10Mulberry, White 10Walnut, Black 10Ash, White 9Birch, Gray 9Holly, spp. 9Oak, Swamp White 9Serviceberry, spp. 9Cottonwood, Eastern 8Katsura 8Lilac, Common 8Oak, Turkish 8Poplar, White 8Spruce, Norway 8Magnolia, Star 6Maple, Silver 6Holly, American 5Larch, European 5Maple, Paperbark 5

Pear, Common 5Redbud, Eastern 5Blackgum 4Crapemyrtle, Common 4Elm, Slippery 4Tree of Heaven 4Willow, Pussy 4Fir, Fraser 3Magnolia, Saucer 3Maple, Hedge 3Maple, Three-Flowered 3Oak, White 3Pine, Jap. Umbrella 3Yew, spp. 3Alder, Common 2Amur Cork Tree 2Buckeye, Ohio 2Fir, Balsam 2Oak, Cherrybark 2Oak, Turkey 2Willow, Weeping 2Baldcypress, Common 1Boxelder 1Butternut 1Goldenrain Tree 1Hickory, Pignut 1Maple, Freeman 1Maple, Shantung 1Mimosa 1Oak, Willow 1Pine, Pitch 1Silverbell, Carolina 1Smoketree, American 1Sourwood 1Sumac, Staghorn 1Yellowwood 1

NEWPORT PUBLIC STREET TREE COUNT BY SPECIES

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— by David Brown and Scott Wheeler —

Elegant trees and foliaged groves of contrasting colors and textures are a big part of why people visit us

here in Newport, rhode island. They are greeted by the “Liberty Tree” beech when they arrive on farewell Street. visitors see other notable trees as they drive down Bellevue avenue past the redwood Li-brary and the art museum. and still more when they stop at estates like King-scote, The elms, and chateau-sur-mer.

The trees that many visitors enjoy most are the european beeches (Fagus syl-vatica), with their low-spread branches...distinctive smooth elephant-skin-like bark...nice dense shade...long-lasting golden fall leaf displays...interesting copper, purple and fern-leaf variations...spooky understories of weeping beeches that kids love to explore...and intricate

bare limbs and twigs that highlight our winter scenes.

we Newporters love beeches too as we walk, run, bicycle and drive past them. real estate people emphasize how beeches and other quality trees add much to property values. Not to mention the delight our squirrels take in finding and stowing away tasty beechnuts.

But we shouldn’t take our beautiful beeches and other trees for granted.

we tend to assume that the wonder-ful specimens which have been there for decades will always be there. No mat-ter how old they get, what pests and storms they encounter, or how badly we treat them. it’s not always easy for a tree in Newport to grow up and be in good health for a long time. our climate is moderate but there can be long drought periods. many of our trees are rooted in soil that is shallow, infertile and poorly

S o yo u a d m i r e T h e e u r o p e a N B ee c h ?

Green, Copper and Fernleaf european Beech seedlings, mill Street, Newport. Photograph by Kristyn Woodland.

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drained. Branches often have to endure Nor’easter windstorms, and sometimes hurricanes. Trees near the ocean can be covered with salt spray.

So you LiKe NewporT ’S maGNificeNT BeecheS...

Then please help take good care of them. Be on guard against Phytophthora, which cause bleeding cankers that de-stroy beeches’ circulatory systems. also, protect their fragile roots and trunks against pests, drought, soil compaction, and sun scald. Be part of community efforts to enjoy and protect them. Plan ahead for their replacement as they become old.

disease and insect pests have devastat-ed some traditional tree species like elms and chestnuts, and new kinds of pests are coming here to southern New england.

Besides natural problems, a Newport

tree has to try to survive what people can do to it: being planted too deep in a hole that’s too small. Bad pruning practices. fumes from vehicle traffic. road salt when there’s snow and ice. people and cars tromping on and compacting the soil on its roots. Lawn mowers and weed eaters scar-ring its trunk. excavations through its root area to make way for a building founda-tion, street curb or underground util-ity line. Streetside trees are likely to find themselves being severely “topped” (ma-jor limbs cut off mid-way) to make space for tall trucks and overhead utilities.

The broader picture is that a tree’s roots, trunk and branches, and leaves—along with its soil, water, and air environ-ment—form a delicately balanced system. imbalances can lead to a spiral of decline. human stewardship can help a lot. But it may not take much by way of ill advised

A watchful eye is being kept on this Gilded Age european Fernleaf Beech in Aquidneck Park (edward King House in the background). Andrew Jackson Downing, author of A Treatise on the Theory and Practice of Landscape Gardening, 1841, wrote of the trees on the King estate: “In long vistas the dark leaves of the purple Beech mingle with those of maple and oak; the linden and Chestnut, the Cypress and Holly all find ample space to grow and expand on the broad acres set apart for their culture.” (Architecture of Country Houses, Downing)

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Replace declining beeches with more beeches?When an older beech finally has to be removed, should another european beech be planted on that site? Several factors should be considered:

Will there be enough permeable space and a compatible natural setting in future decades?

Will another beech fit into the projected landscape scheme so well as one of the new tree varieties that are becoming available?

Would it be helpful to diversify tree species in the neighborhood, to guard against your urban forest being wiped out by an unex-pected pest?

if an old beech has been near a street, its replacement might well be

set back in a nearby yard. That way, less damage from traffic, trench dig-ging, road salts, etc. is likely. in fact, the Newport Tree and parks division has a Bare root Street Tree planting program that encourages this.

a property owner can choose one or more young trees from a list of improved varieties that fit Newport. most of these fit smaller spaces and are more pest-resistant than tradition-al trees. Trained staff plant and help them get started. in return, the owner provides space back from the street, pays a modest price for the tree, and agrees to take good care of it as a Tree Steward.

branch removal, soil compaction, root cutting or other intrusions for a beech’s health to be seriously jeopardized.

BLeediNG caNKer—a New peST

Tree experts are now urging Newport beech tree owners and caretakers to take special precautions against infection by a group of organisms called phytophthora (which are fungi-like but which botanists link more closely to algae). These take advantage of weaknesses in tree health—insect infestations, drought, damage to limbs or roots, old age decline, and other causes—and can lead to quicker death of your valued beech.

phytophthora destroy the tissues be-neath the bark. The outward sign—red-dish or dark brown oozing—is bad enough. But inside, they cause very serious dam-age to the beech’s circulatory system (the xylem and phloem layers beneath the

bark). moisture and nutrients from the roots can no longer make their way up to the leaves in the canopy. This leads to less photosynthesis, leaf and bud dieback, sensitive beech limbs exposed to the sun, and a generally weakened system.

The phytophthora attacks in them-selves are not the only source of damage. The lesions and seepages attract certain beetles, other insects, and pathogens that might otherwise have left the stricken beech alone. and this in turn worsens and speeds up the tree’s decline.

any of several p. species and strains may be the villains here in the Northeast. Some enter through the root system and move up into the trunk. others splash up from puddles when it’s raining, or when the tree is being irrigated, and enter the lower trunk through insect wounds and damaged bark areas. The spores may land on the beech’s own trunk and limbs, or on

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nearby plants. Some of those plants may themselves be prone to infection (eng-lish oaks, tulip trees and rhododendrons, among others). wind and rain may carry those spores onto beeches.

people may also unintentionally spread phytophthora through purchase of in-fected plants from unreliable sources, use of infected tools, or transport of soil and landscape debris.

what to do if it appears that phy-tophthora have infected a valued beech or plant? first, with help from a certified arborist and perhaps laboratory analysis, identify the pathogen. for some types, a phosphorus-based solution applied to infection-prone areas may reduce further spread. even then, a good arborist will probably tell you that it’s not a sure thing.

Just as with a person who’s ill with a disease, it’s important to see that the beech has good nutrition and other natu-ral conditions conducive to better health.

SpeciaL chaLLeNGeS

The european beeches in Newport are better adapted to urban life than are their woodland cousins (the american beech, Fagus grandfolia). But they still crave care that tries to recreate the natural condi-tions of their origins.

for one thing, beech roots are fibrous and shallow. This is good for absorb-ing moisture, but makes the roots easily damaged. Just a few people trampling on them regularly can do harm. Not to mention the frequent practice of parking cars under beeches for their cooling shade.

Beeches need lots of water. They are one of the tree species that do need watering when there is a long drought. Beeches suck up a lot of moisture to sustain their dense foilage. This along with their dense shade makes it almost impossible to sus-

If a valued tree of yours is having health problems, Scott Wheeler, Newport Tree Warden, urges you to remember this above all:1. Do no harm! Within the root zone, don’t ex-cavate, compress soil, or change water flows, unless you really know what you’re doing.

2. Assess the cultural setting of your tree. Are you trying to force it to live in tough sur-roundings? Try to replicate natural conditions.

3. Intervene with caution and only if you re-ally know what you’re doing, preferably with guidance from a certified, licensed arborist.

4. Do the math. Is it wiser to spend more on this ailing tree, or to replace it with a young tree better suited to the surroundings?

european beech on mill Street.

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tain grass turf or other cover plants be-neath beech canopies. The best grounds-keepers in Newport are emulating natural duff by spreading two or three inches of organic mulch (such as partly decayed leaves) under their large beeches and other spec-imen shade trees. They make sure not to heap up mulch against the trunk base or over the brace roots. That could lead to rotting, rodent damage, and impaired ability to carry water and nutrients up to the leaves.

as other specimen tree species, beech-es should be pruned only as need be, by ex-perienced persons. There are valid reasons to do some trimming—e.g., removing a limb that is rubbing against another, hanging too low over a street, growing too near a building, or damaged from a storm. But tree experts are now less in-clined to thin out branches heavily.

Beeches are very thin-skinned! The smooth

bark on a beech-tree trunk and branches can easily be damaged by scrapes and cuts. if the bark is exposed directly to the sun, harmful scalding can take place. So it’s important not to prune so heavily that lots of foilage which shades the bark is removed; removal of dead and broken branches should be the main aim. plant-ing other trees and shrubs to help shade the southern exposures of a beech trunk can be a way to reduce sun damage.

Besides phytophthora, woolly aphids are a second pest that may infect our european beeches. These are a cottony-covered insect that emerge in late spring. They suck nutrients from young twigs and the undersides of leaves. They often cause some leaves to curl up and dry out, but this usually does not damage beeches seriously. (in contrast, the aphids and adelgids that attack hemlocks and some other trees can be serious.)

Fallen european beech, St. michael’s Country Day School, 2011.

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The woolly aphids do excrete a lot of unpleasant, sticky honeydew. in turn, sooty mold that feeds on the honeydew may appear on the leaves. Beech owners who find this too objectionable can ask certified arborists to try to reduce aphid infestations with insecticidal soaps or other non-hazardous treatments.

Winter moths are a third pest to be on the alert for, even though they seem to like fruit trees, maples and some other species more than beeches. These moths have shown up in eastern massachusetts and in rhode island in recent years. They emerge from the soil in late fall, and lay eggs in tree bark and other crevices. in early spring, the eggs hatch into larvae that turn into small caterpillars that de-

vour new buds. professional applications of horticultural oils before the eggs hatch have helped to reduce some infestations.

many of Newport’s beeches were planted during Newport’s “gilded age” of large estates and legions of gardeners who could give careful care to flowers, lawns, shrubs and trees. many of these specimens are now more than a century old; they are well into old-age decline. estate grounds aren’t so spacious as be-fore. Buildings, walkways and driveways are squeezing into the canopy and root spaces of these large trees.

happily, we have quite a few mature beeches that—with careful guidance from certified arborists—can be rescued and nurtured into years and even de-

dove Tree Davidia involucrata

A wonderful dove tree specimen can be viewed on the northeast corner of Butler Street and Van Zandt Avenue. Look for its elegant blooms in late May.

“A frequent visitor at Beth-shan [on Gibbs Avenue], Charles Sprague Sargent of the Arnold Arboretum ad-vised the ardent mrs. Gibbs in her selection of trees. Together with plant-hunter ernest ‘Chinese’ Wilson, they stocked Bethshan with exotics, none more ac-

NOTABLE NEWPORT TREES

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cades of extended life. But this has to be matched with two other ingredients:

- Owners’ and developers’ appreciation of the value of sustaining these beech-es (both aesthetic and economic), and readiness to provide the need-ed investments and protections.

- Community policies that encourage this—such as minimizing the dig-ging of trenches for utilities, curb-ing, etc. through tree root systems, and planning and zoning that foster spaces which are friendly to specimen trees, greenscapes, and natural drainage.

individually, we can encourage good care of beeches in our vicinity. when we see a neglected beech, we can tell the

owner how much we enjoy beeches, and help him or her in a friendly way to get in touch with arborists. we can exert posi-tive influence toward timely attention to beeches and other valuable trees via our neighborhood and condo associations, garden clubs, preservation societies, and other groups.

if your own yard is not huge, you might consider planting one of the more com-pact beeches. Two that have been featured in the Newport Tree Society Specimen Tree restoration program are the rivers purple Beech (grows to 50’ tall) and the smaller, narrower purple fountain Beech (grows to 20’). Beech hedges are another way to add some attractive beech “flavor” to your summer and fall foliage. They en-

claimed than the dove tree (Davidia involu-crata) which Wilson had personally acquired in China.

“The Bethshan dove tree first bloomed in 1924 toward the end of may. each year for a score of years Harvard students visited New-port to view the dove tree and other exotics at the Gibbs’ home. When the 1938 hurricane toppled the tree, workmen righted it. But fi-nally in the 1950s the old, unstable specimen was felled. Horticulturists at the university of Rhode Island as well as private Newport gardeners such as Allan Booth failed to ger-minate seed from it, despite many efforts.

‘Chinese’ Wilson’s finding of the dove tree makes interesting telling. He had been com-missioned by the Arnold Arboretum to go to China to acquire seed of the scarce tree. Re-turning to a known location, he failed to find

the slightest trace of it until on inquiring of a native as to its whereabouts, the man pointed to his shanty and said he had constructed his home with boards from the choice tree. Wilson eventually located specimens, which came to the arboretum and thence to New-port and elsewhere.”

—”Newport estates and Their Flora,” Richard Champlin, Newport Historical Society, Newport His-tory, Volume 53 Part 2, Spring 1980, Number 178.

“Today, only a couple of dove trees still survive in Newport. maud Howe elliot de-scribes the Gibbs tree: ‘When blooming, it is covered with large blossoms having two snow white leaves that look like the spread wings of Spirito Sancto, the white doves of the Vatican garden.’”

—”Newport’s living legends,” Peter Simpson

NOTABLE NEWPORT TREES

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Tim Brown speaks at a tree planting ceremony in miantonomi Park.

dure regular trimming better than many woody species.

even if you have just a tiny space, a beech of your very own can become a great part of your life. Bonsai lovers find that beech stock can make a wonderful long-lasting outdoor specimen. one can consider many interesting species and subspecies, including oriental beeches as well as european and american.

Beech wood NeedN’T Go To waSTe

most of us feel sad when an elegant old beech tree finally has to be cut down, and its huge limbs and trunk are being trucked off. does that have to be the end of that beech’s career?

Not necessarily. a beech has some

great qualities for wood crafts and manu-facturing—hard, fine grain, very white, not gummy or strong-scented. it is used for making furniture, parquet flooring, veneer plywood, work benches and mal-lets, wooden toys. one “lower” use is rail-road ties. cured for a year or so, it makes good firewood.

So if you have uses like that, or know people who might, you might try to work out something with the tree service so that your old beech isn’t just tossed away. it’s reported that one Newport resident loved her beech tree so much that, when it finally had to be removed, she had din-ner plates made from the wood to share with others as lasting legacies of a tree life well lived. n

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Newport Tree Planting ProgramsPRoGRAm

Newport Tree Society Specimen Tree Resto-ration Program

Newport Tree Society Commemorative Tree Program

City of Newport Bare Root Tree Program

DeSCRIPTIoN

Provides a specimen tree to be planted anywhere on private property in the City of Newport. Free in exchange for a commitment to attend a tree planting workshop and plant and maintain the tree. limited availability—first come, first served. FREE.

Commemorative specimen tree planted by the city of Newport in a Newport park or other public space. Donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law. $260 MINIMUM DONATION.

Provides a bare root tree planted by the City of Newport on any private property in Newport within 20’ of a public right-of-way. limited availability. $70.

TRee SPeCS

5’-6’ height3/4”-1” caliper

5-gal. container

10’-12’ height2.5”-3” caliper

25-gal. container

8’- 12’ height Tree caliper 13/4”

bare root tree

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2 013 S p e C I m e N t r e e r e S t o r at I o N p ro g r a m

The Specimen Tree restoration program is collaborative project of the Newport Tree Society and the Newport forestry division de-signed to complement the city’s Bare root Tree planting program. free trees will be provided to Newport property owners who plant and maintain them, with no restrictions on tree placement other than suitability for planting. measurements are at maturity.

Green Weeping European Beech Height 40’ Spread 45’Fagus sylvatica ‘Pendula’

Branches gracefully droop to the ground with glossy, bright green foliage. Sinuous branches give beautiful winter interest in the landscape. an ideal centerpiece for a yard or focal point for a hillside or vista.

River’s Purple European Beech Height 50’ Spread 30’Fagus sylvatica ‘Riversii’’

a stunning special selection of the purple european Beech (or copper Beech), whose unusually deep purple foliage lasts all season long. The eu-ropean beech is one of Newport’s signature specimen trees, growing excep-tionally well in the seaside climate.

Starlight Dogwood Height 30’ Spread 25’Cornus kousa ‘Starlight’

an abundance of white flowers creates a showy bloom for this cross be-tween cornus kousa and the pacific dogwood, cornus nuttallii. disease and drought tolerant.

Chinese Fringetree Height 20’ Spread 25’Chionanthus retusus

a highly-prized small, dome-shaped tree with clusters of fragrant, fringe-like blooms, the chinese fringetree is a beautiful accent for small yards. Set against dark evergreen trees for a gorgeous bloom spectacle in sharp contrast. female plants develop purple-blue fruits which provide food for many birds.

Worplesdon Sweetgum Height 55’ Spread 35’Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Worplesdon’

‘worplesdon’ is a famous selection of Liquidambar with stunning autumn color starting in early September and lasting until late october. The leaves turn a fiery-orange, red and yellow before they fall.

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Commemoration Sugar Maple Height 50’ Spread 30’Acer saccharum ‘Commemoration’

The native sugar maple is beloved both as the source for maple syrup and for its classic fall color. ‘commemoration’ boasts brilliant red-orange fall foliage appearing a week or two before other sugar maples. This variety is well-adapted to urban conditions and has lustrous dark green leaves.

American Hornbeam Height 25’ Spread 20’Carpinus caroliniana

Native to eastern North america. a shade-friendly understory tree, the ameri-can hornbeam is commonly found along the borders of streams. it enjoys moist soil but can tolerate both wet and dry sites.

Loebner Magnolia Height 25’ Spread 25’Magnolia x loebneri ‘Leonard Messel”

a stunning cross between Magnolia kobus and Magnolia stellata ‘rosea,’ the Loebner magnolia has has star-shaped flowers with twelve narrow petals, white on the inside and purplish-pink on the outside.

Dawyck Purple European Beech Height 55’ Spread 25’Fagus sylvatica ‘Dawyck Purple’

a striking columnar purple beech with narrow form and deep purple leaves whose color lasts throughout the summer. Smooth silver bark adds significant winter interest.

Wildfire Blackgum Height 50’ Spread 25’Nyssa sylvatica ‘Wildfire’

This Tupelo offers three seasons of bright foliage. Spring brings a surprising flush of deep red growth, and summer’s glossy, dark green leaves turn fiery red in the fall. The alligator-like textured bark is dark gray to almost black.

Persian Ironwood Height 30’ Spread 15’Parrotia persica ‘Vanessa’

a columnar version of the ironwood, this durable tree is exceptional in every season. Scalloped leaves bring an incredible autumn display, turning bronze, then crimson, followed by orange and finishing brilliant gold. exfoliating grey-and-tan bark is another dramatic feature of ‘vanessa.’

Snowcone® Japanese Snowbell Height 25’ Spread 20’Styrax japonicum ‘Snowcone’

heavily flowering Snowcone® features the pure white, bell-shaped, pendulous flowers of the species, with a uniquely dense pyramidal shape.

Supplies are limited. To apply online, visit newportarboretum.org, or call 324-9204. (please help us

minimize administrative time by applying online if possible.)

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pocket maps full-color, folded pocket maps are available at the mu-seum & Shop at Brick market, Newport visitors cen-ter, papers, preservation Society gift stores, redwood Library, Salve regina Bookstore & Library and other venues. or print any tree walk from our website for free!

www.newportarboretum.org

over 7 miles of tree walks featuring over 90 species and cultivars and dozens of historical points of interest!

T h e N ew p o r T T r ee wa LK S er i e S

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Download your preferred EveryTrail™ app for iPod Touch, iPhone, or Android phone:

- EveryTrail™ (FREE) to stream walks over any internet connection

- EveryTrail PRO™ ($3.99) to down-load walks to your device

Launch the EveryTrail™ app and search for “Newport Tree Walks”

1

2

download a freeNewport Tree walk.

smartphone tree walks

expanded content tree walks for smartphone and other mobile devices include photographs and ad-ditonal educational facts...all on an interactive map!

T h e N ew p o r T T r ee wa LK S er i e S

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Legend has it that when Newport’s weather is unusually dry and the soil has released its moisture and

shrunken back into itself, a careful ob-server can see faint indentations in the fields below miantonomi Tower marking the spot where colonial British encamp-ments once stood.

Like archaeologists on the hunt for the ghosts of an 18th century tent city, dan Burns and Tom eberhardt walk the grounds of The chalet, a 4.6-acre property overlook-ing Newport har-bor, looking for telltale depressions or mounds.

These telltales mark the spot where trees planted by axel anderson — head gardener for the estate from the late 1880’s to the 1940’s — once stood. in deference to stew-ards of the past, new trees have been

planted in many of these spots along with “shadow plantings” next to mature trees whose lifespans are nearing their limits.

The chalet’s now carefully-tended landscape is slowly but surely recover-ing from a long period of benign neglect. in 2006, condominium owners gathered together to begin an ambitious restora-tion of the property, and since that time, an incredible variety of trees have been

planted. This story of the rise, fall and rebirth of The chalet’s historic landscape gives a striking parallel to the story of New-port’s urban forest as a whole.

originally com-missioned by mrs. colford Jones, an aunt of edith

wharton, the residence was de-signed by richard morris hunt

in the Stick Style vernacular circa 1865. in the 1880’s, the property was

thechaleta NewporT JeweL

reSTored

Aerial view of The Chalet (building upper right) from the early 1930s facing north. The building at the forefront of this photograph, The moorings, was razed.

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purchased by captain hugh deLaussat willoughby, who commissioned hunt to treble the size of the cottage. Like much of Newport, the grounds of The chalet were heavily planted from the Gilded age through the early 1940’s (although the hurricane of 1938 felled many trees).

upon captain willoughby’s death, his head gardener, axel anderson, was bequeathed the stables, and in the 1940’s, the estate was sold and the prop-erty became a rooming house. as it did city-wide, planting at The chalet waned during the second half of the twentieth century as enthusiasm for sylviculture turned to indifference, and indifference to neglect.

in the 1960’s, a 60-unit, 3-building condominium complex was proposed for the site (and rejected), and in the 1980’s the main house was converted into the condominiums that exist today. This fa-miliar Newport story continues with the loss of ten mature fir trees in the early 2000’s as the black turpentine beetle swept across the island, a plague to any tree of the genus Pinus.

By this time, the majority of the prop-erty’s surviving Gilded age trees were in steady decline. in 2005, a stately but ailing copper Beech was summarily cut down, an act “silently observed by condo owners,” according to dan Burns. “i had no awareness of the trees on our grounds until that moment when i drove on our property and saw something gone that can never be replaced in our lifetime.”

This dramatic loss to the landscape, combined with the suggestion that all of the property’s beeches might be similarly removed, spurred residents into collective action. Since that time, both the grounds and main building of The chalet have experienced an infusion of energy and di-rect investment to revive the once-ailing property. The condominium association has come together to support the sus-tained effort of several residents to lov-ingly replant this jewel along the harbor.

Guided by photographs from the 1920’s and 30’s, dan Burns, Tom eb-erhardt, and Nanette Kritzalis and her mother have sourced trees with the help of arborists, landscaping companies, and

Young trees stand against a backdrop of mature specimens at The Chalet in 2013.

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nearby nurseries. a Katsura and Black Tupelo were planted through the New-port Tree Society Specimen Tree restora-tion program, and the city of Newport’s division of forestry has been supportive of replanting efforts: “Scott wheeler and his team have done amazing work in this town. he has actively worked with us be-fore and i can’t say enough about the tree program.”

dan and Tom are always on the look-

out for new trees to replace those lost to age, disease or extreme weather. as dan recounts, “The Swiss village foundation posted an intriguing offer on facebook last winter. They were removing their ex-isting apple orchard and had over fifteen mature trees available at minimal cost. i immediately contacted Kerry ann mc-clean, the head gardener, to organize. it turned out to be a bigger project than i anticipated. i needed to reach out to

TreeS pLaNTed aT The chaLeT 2006 — preSeNT

Bald cypress Black birchBlue sequoiaCedar of lebanonChinese white pineClump river birchCopper beechDove treeDwarf blue cedar

european beechFull moon mapleJapanese mapleKatsura treemagnoliaoaksCoral-bark mapleRedbudRhode Island Greening

Apple (heirloom)Roxbury Russet Apple

(heirloom)Sugar mapleSwamp white oakJapanese maplesTri-color beechTupelo treeumbrella pine

Valley Forge elmWeeping Alaska

cypressWeeping blue cedarWeeping hornbeamWeeping purple beechWeeping white pineYellow birch

Tom eberhardt, Dan Burns and lilly Dick at The Chalet during a Newport Arboretum Week fundraiser.

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N e w p o rt

tree tag p ro g r a m

This arboretum tag marks two historic camperdown elms in washington Square. once threat-ened with removal, these trees now receive well-deserved attention as an integral part of The Newport arboretum’s specimen tree collec-tion and an apt starting point for the colonial Tree walk.

Newporters are encouraged to order tree tags for their own trees—particularly if a tree is viewable from a public right-of-way.

Suggested donation $20. Visit newportarboretum.org to order.

many thanks to volunteers Frank Amaral and Pat Cawley who have been tagging trees across the city. Pat was a City of Newport employee for over 25 years and at one point worked as an arborist for Public Works. Frank has owned a landscaping business since 1981 and, when not gardening, can be found all over town volunteering in one capacity or another. Kudos to our 2013 tag team!

dig Safe to ensure no gas or power lines would be affected. it was something i had not thought of but makes complete sense! matt [Largess] was able to care-fully remove and replant to their forever home. as apple trees do not gain height, it is a great solution to our property as it will not diminish any views of the har-bour for us or our neighbors. Sadly, due to the cost of transplanting something of that size, i could only afford four.”

many Gilded age trees still remain on the property, including a fernleaf Beech,

american Beech, ornamental Japanese maple, camperdown elm, Tulip Tree, and several Butternuts and european beeches. Since 2006, over thirty new spe-cies have been added, creating a minia-ture arboretum.

This encouraging story of the success-ful adaptive reuse of an historic Newport estate is an inspiration to us all. dan Burns further prompts us with an old chinese proverb: “‘The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The second best time is now.’ Very apt indeed!” n

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INCome & eXPeNSeS

T h e N e w p o r T T r e e S o c i e T y

2012 financial summary

STATemeNT oF FINANCIAl PoSITIoN AS oF DeCemBeR 31, 2012

ASSeTS

Cash 50,576 Investments 2,121

Total Assets 52,697

lIABIlITIeS

Accounts Payable 3,370

INCome

Donations/membership events Grants In-Kind Prof. Services other

Gross Income

32,0453,180

46,5005,485

425

87,635

eXPeNSeS

educational Programs 12,882Collections—Planting & maint. 10,042Collections—other mgmt. 26,840Admin/Planning/Accreditation 28,311membership/PR/Development 15,378

Total expenses 93,453

Net Income (5,818)

NeT ASSeTS

Temp Restricted Net Assets* 35,971unrestricted Net Assets 13,356

Total Net Assets 49,327

Total liabilities & Net Assets 52,697

*These Temporarily Restricted Net Assets represent grant funds raised for special projects, and remain in reserve until such time as project activities (planting, tree surveys, and accreditation efforts) are completed.

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ms. dominique alfandre and mr. Thomas palmer

mr. & mrs. phillip Bildenmr. & mrs. John Brooksms. eileen Brownmr. & mrs. richard Burnhammrs. robert o. charlesmrs. Taylor chewningms. Brittain Bardes

mr. robert currierdick family foundationmr. & mrs. ronald dickdr. and mrs. edwin G. fischermr. ronald Lee flemingmr. christopher fletchermr. david B. ford & ms. pamela fielderhotel viking - mark Gervaismr. & mrs. Sidney S. Gorham iii

2 0 1 2 special supporters

friends of the N e w p o rt

a r b o r e t u m2 0 1 2 a r B o r e T u m S o c i e T y

The Newport Tree Societyalletta morris mcBean charitable Trusthelen walker raleigh Tree care Trust

van Beuren charitable foundation

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friendsa4 architecturemr. ron ackmanmrs. charles c. adams iiiSister m. Therese antone, rSmmr. Jan armormr. & mrs. christopher arnerms. Janet p. atkins & mr. Tarleton watkins ii

ms. romayne BockstoceBowens wharf co.ms. Nancy Bredbeckmrs. andrea L. Breyerms. Sara a. Brownmr. Timothy J. Brownms. marilyn Bunnewithmr. daniel Burns & mr. Thomas eberhardt

mr. John campanini Jr.ms. darcy carrmr. & mrs. Sam chasemr. & mrs.George claysonms. edna cohanems. Sophia demaio

ms. heather doddsmr. and mrs. emlen draytonms. Susan dyemr. harry eudenbachmr. & mrs. Toby fieldms. Kiki finn ms. Linda finnpen craig Gate house condo association

ms. pamela Gilpinmr. & mrs. peter Goffms. audrey Grimesmr. & mrs. charles B. Grosvenormr. & mrs. paul haigneyhazard avenue Limited partnershipms. Jane K. hencems. frances Stuart hestermaj. Gen. & mrs. Stephen r. Seiterms. Stefani hulitarmr. & mrs. william Jacklinms. pam Kelleyms. deborah e. Kelsey & mr. Kevin p. Kelley

mr. Leonard Gracemrs. Samuel m. v. hamiltonmr. John harris & ms. Linda Sawyermr. and mrs. George G. herrickms. virginia decker Keithmrs. morten Kiellandmr. daniel Kindermr. Samuel Kindermrs. charles m. Leightonms. Lisa S. Lewismr. & mrs. Kenneth Lindhmr. richard c. Loebs Jr. ms. didi Lorillard

mr. & mrs. John h. manicemr. & mrs. Samuel m. mencoffmr. richard S. palmerms. Bettie Bearden pardeems. Lisa perraultmr. & mrs. frank rayms. Susan ruf & mr. michael walshmr. and mrs. Jay Schochetmr. vincent ‘Jack’ Siravo and ms. robin hoffmann

mr. & mrs. william L. wallacemrs. John G. winslow

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mrs. william Leathermanmr. & mrs. Jeffrey LeBaronms. roxanne Leightonmr. Sidney Longmr. henry S. Lynn Jr.ms. Karen mahankemccamphill familyrdmL & mrs. dennis f. mccoyhon. & mrs. Justin mcLaughlinhon. Judy clagett mcLennanmr. & mrs. daniel mcSweeneymr. & mrs. robert meiklemr. & mrs. Joseph f. melemr. pierre f. v. merlemr. Jordan miller & ms. rachel allenms. carlotta marie morrisms. cheryl mrozowskimr arthur murphyhon. Naomi Neville & mr. Jeff rothermel

mr. & mrs. howard Newmanmr. robert oakleyms. Sandra ourusoffmr. Jay J. pageSenator Teresa paiva weedms. Katie parentmr. & mrs. John paynemr. & mrs. christopher T. h. pellmr. & mrs. James purviancems. pamela rakip

ms. ann randallms. mary reynoldsmr. & mrs. al ringms. marie robinsonmr. Nicholas B. Scheetzmr. & mrs. richard B. SheffieldSherwood condominium associationms. marjorie Joan Simmonsmr. Scott Skuncikmr. & mrs. edward Smithms. mary alice Smithmr. & mrs. edward L. Stonemr. & mrs. dennis m. Tabermr. david Thalmannmr. huw K. Thomasms. Julie Tolandmr. & mrs. michael vittonmr. & mrs. robert S. walkermr. alexander G. walsh & ms. cynthia madden

mr. George warrenmr. Barnabas webstercapt. charles weishar, uSN (ret.)mr. & mrs. Larry weismanmr. & mrs. roger wellsvice adm. & mrs. Thomas r. weschlerhon. & mrs. henry f. winthropms. Kristyn woodland & mr. James currier

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newportarboretum.orgT h e N e w p o r T T r e e S o c i e T y

newportarboretum.orgT h e N e w p o r T T r e e S o c i e T y

tHe Newport arboretumCITIZEN fORESTRY AWARDS

f r a N va N L i e wFor her unfailing advocacy on behalf of urban forests through carefully managed philanthropy and thoughtful and innovative leadership in support of grassroots plant-ing initiatives in Newport and the State of Rhode Island.

B a N K N e w p o r TFor demonstrating green community leadership through the extensive replanting of BankNewport’s Washington Square branch parking lot, replacing an entire planting of declining trees and ensuring a greener city for all New-porters to enjoy.

B e L m e a dTo Edward and Cassandra Stone and the Belmead Condo-minium Association for leading the ambitious restoration of Belmead’s long-neglected historic landscape, including the planting of a carefully selected variety of 17 specimen trees, creating a park-like ‘borrowed landscape’ on a highly visible Bellevue Avenue property for all passersby to enjoy.

N e w p o r T G a r d e N c L u BFor organizing an initiative to beautify Broadway through the planting of fifteen trees and for leadership in conservation through the creation of a collaborative educational exhibit highlighting Newport’s urban forest ecology and natural history.