The unusual fringe tree, part of the arboretum of interesting trees at the former Medfield State Hospital site, is in full bloom now, and is worth a visit.
Former long time Town of Medfield Tree Warden, Ellis Allen, prepared and shared the tree map that appears below. He did not note the fringe tree, so I added it. When the fringe tree is not in bloom it is totally unremarkable. There were two more much smaller fringe trees at the site, but they were cut down. Ellis also did not include the interesting line of larch trees along the Charles River Link Trail path that he told me about. That trail runs along the Charles from the Overlook to a hemlock grove high above the river. That area just was not on Ellis’ map. a row of many towering larchs line the path on the right just after crossing the brook. Larchs look like evergreens, but are deciduous.
And here is what the canoe launch along that stretch of trail looked like when it was originally constructed. Now the flat stones in the left photo are invisible in the river under water and mud.
Hi Pete, There are two varieties of Fringe trees–a native one Chionanthus virginicus–which is quite hardy here and Chionanthus retusus or Chinese fringe tree. They are both lovely, but the native species turns yellow in the fall and is a source of pollen for native insects (which is a good thing!) Now I want to go up to there and take a look. Betty
On Mon, Jun 3, 2019 at 11:11 AM Medfield02052’s Blog wrote:
> Selectman Osler “Pete” Peterson posted: “The unusual fringe tree, part of > the arboretum of interesting trees at the former Medfield State Hospital > site, is in full bloom now, and is worth a visit. Former long time Town of > Medfield Tree Warden, Ellis Allen, prepared and shared the tree map tha” >
LikeLike
Betty, I will be looking to learn which variety we have.
LikeLike
Larch not Lark?
LikeLike
Thanks Rosemary. I already caught that one myself and changed it on the blog, but too late to change what already went out. Sometimes my head gets to funny places.
LikeLike
Yes to larch. There are also a bunch of larch trees in South Natick, I think near the rectory for the now disbanded Catholic church.
LikeLike