Guardians of Time: Preserving Ann Arbor’s Historic Trees
Four girls are visiting their grandfather at the family manor when they discover a book that opens up a passageway into another world. They must locate secret temples and fight dark forces to regain the power of time.
Ann Arbor first adopted an Urban & Community Forest Management Plan in 2014. The city’s tree canopy, including those along streets and mowed areas of parks, provides many benefits.
Chinkapin Oak
Often overlooked by landscapers, the chinkapin oak (Quercus muehlenbergii) provides a beautiful, adaptable shade tree. In addition, its fruit provides a valuable food source for wildlife.
This deciduous tree typically grows to 40 to 50 feet tall with a wide spread in the landscape, and up to 80 feet in the wild. The tan to gray bark adds texture and interest to the landscape. In the fall, the chinkapin produces small acorns with prickly husks that are popular with turkeys, deer, and other wildlife. This page provides valuable information about the characteristics and features of this tree, including its size, bark color, and the attraction it holds for various animals during the autumn season.
Chinkapin oak thrives in a variety of climate and soil conditions, but performs best in zones 5 to 7. When planted, be sure to provide adequate space for growth. Mulching around the base of the plant helps to retain moisture and reduce competition from weeds. Like other oaks, chinkapins are susceptible to a number of pests and diseases, including oak wilt, so periodic inspections are necessary. When necessary, proper pruning and spraying with systemic insecticides can be used to control them.
Tappan Oak
When Elisha Rumsey staked his claim to land that would become the University of Michigan in 1820, he left a fine bur oak alone. Over the centuries, it served as a gathering place and a symbol of a frontier college. But by the 2010s, a microbial invader had taken hold in its core, causing it to weaken. Arborists inspected it and feared the tree could drop branches on students or keel over into Hatcher Library in a windstorm.
Fortunately, the University resurrected a long-standing tradition and planted a sapling around the base of the Tappan Oak to commemorate each graduating class. And now, thanks to Guardians of Time, the oak will be protected for generations to come.
Weeping Cherry (Birch)
Like the Yoshino cherry trees that align the Tidal Basin in Washington, this weeping variety (Prunus subhirtella ‘Pendula’) adds grace and beauty to landscapes. Its delicately cascading branches are adorned with delicate spring flowers in pink or white. After the blooms have faded, glossy green leaves emerge to complete the summer look. In fall, the foliage displays yellow and orange tones, and in winter, its bare branches are striking against snow.
Weeping cherry is reasonably cold-hardy and does not need any special care to overwinter in climates up to USDA zone 5. Plant it in full sun or part shade, and mulch with ground hardwood or cypress mulch (any type will do) to conserve moisture. Water regularly in the first two years after planting. Then, as the tree matures, water a few times per week until the soil is moist to the touch. Avoid overwatering to prevent root rot. Fertilize annually with a complete fertilizer in early spring, following label instructions.
Sugar Maple
Sugar maple (Acer saccharum) is one of the most important hardwood species in eastern North America. Its dense canopy provides shade in summer and brilliant fall colors of yellow, orange, and radiant red. Its light brown, close-grained wood is used in furniture and other finely crafted products.
It is a dominant component of the hardwood forests of northern New England and the upper northeastern United States from Maine west to Minnesota. It is also found in southern Canada and the southwestern United States.
To produce maple syrup, trees require a combination of cold nights and warm days to create pressure imbalances that lead to sap flow. This process is highly dependent on climate, and the maple syrup season often depends on weather conditions, making harvest unpredictable for individual producers. Its dense canopy provides shelter and food for a wide range of wildlife. White-tailed deer, moose, porcupines, and squirrels eat the bark, twigs, and seeds (called samaras). Nutrient cycling is also enhanced by the tree’s leaves, which release nitrogen and phosphorus to the forest floor as they decompose.