What’s next…
For those of you that have been faithful readers of my blog, you may remember a post dating to January 28, 2012. Here is the preamble for today’s offering as a quick refresher.
blogs.haverford.edu/arboretum/2012/01/28/what-if/
The Arboretum crew has begun the removal of Euonymus alatus, burning bush from campus. This shrub is an invasive Asian species. However, I would like to first thank two young men from the Shipley School, Chris Camerota and Mack Gallagher. They just completed a three week volunteer service project as part of their graduation requirement. A good portion of their efforts were spent on this one task. We wish them well in the fall as they attend Washington and Lee University and Lafayette University respectively.
Burning bush’s wandering tendencies are most evident in the autumn. They are easily spotted in the woods and other natural settings when their screaming red foliage brings them out of hiding in the summer greenery. The removal on campus has netted 23 mature plants. These plantings were more than likely installed 20-25 years ago, at a time when the horticulture profession might not have known of the plant’s propensity to be so troublesome.
Once the removal is complete, a site by site evaluation will be made as to a native species replacement or none at all. In the case of the plantings behind the Library we will be replanting the area with the native Chionanthus virginicus, fringetree and Hydrangea quercifolia, oak-leaved hydrangea.
Rarely does any arboretum of botanical garden chose to eradicate a species from the collection. The Haverford College Arboretum feels that this is one of those opportunities to educate the college community and protect the approximately 80 acres of natural land on campus.
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- after photo of burning bush, with Chris Camerota and Mack Gallagher of the Shipley School
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- before photo of burning bush
