Nature Through the Seasons Near the Towson Y

Look at the six trees in the circle in front of the main entrance.  Under "Meditations" we have mentioned the lichen.  We predicted that these trees were raised somewhere less polluted than the east coast or they would not have had so much lichen.  The lichen are sensitive indicators of air pollution particularly lead particles.  We said that the lichen does not damage the tree but needs a lot of light. Therefore it may predict that the leafy canopy in the summer may be thinner than ideal for the tree. The lichen should be more on the sunny south side.  And we also guessed that the trees may be a cultivar of honey locust. But here the point is confirm the identification and watch the dynamic changes in the next three months.  As far as the ID, there is a faint memory of pinnately compound leaves.  Ordinarily we would  ( for variant of honey locust) be looking for thorns on the limbs and pods on the ground.   But if you were a tree wanting t...

This is intended for any specific nature discussion.  Some possible topics might be as follows.  Interesting broader speculations we are putting under the separate "meditations". 1. Is it nature?   At one extreme the high tech spinning cycles and the automatic doors are still part of nature. Civilization is a wholly owned subsidiary of mother nature.  At the other extreme there is no "nature" left, every corner of the earth, the arctic pole, has chemical pollutants.  Maryland divides instruction into Master Naturalist and Master Gardiner.  Towson Y is mostly horticulture and plantings but the dynamics of these plants are still interesting. It is convenient.  It is dynamic. 2. Google Earth.  These plants can be pinpointed on google earth and it might be useful.  The first version of Towson Y that appears on google earth is just as the landscaping was starting.  Some of the large trees in that view are already gone.  There may be ...

This is from the main entrance going west.  There is a small clump of trees before the stone drainage ditch. The first three look like some sort of fruit tree, apple was the most common in the area for years.  After leaving out in the summer and some online consultation, These three small tress are probably Cherry trees.  The suggestion is Prunus serrulata a variety that has no fruiting. In addition the leaves as of the summer show "cherry shot hole disease".  The holes in the leaves are non-specific, more than one cause but may indicate too high humidity and poor air circulation around the leaves. one trunk of the group of three Cherry trees ?Cherry shot hole disease There is a large conifer near the road, there are no obvious cones.  The needles seem to arise from small cups on the twigs and do not roll easily between the fingers so tentatively calling it a fir. Cones would be nice to be more specific. Near the stone drain is a red oak.  A long line of sm...

This is the area between the parking lot and the fence on the side toward Towson. There are a lot of trees and shrubs here but many are of the same variety. Boundaries are the front corner already described and the tall Hickory tree near the north exit.  Let's make tentative diagnosis of the evergreens starting at the most southern light post. There are seven pines, the needles grow off the twigs in bunches of five.  This probably indicates white pine (five letters in white).  There are exceptions to every rule (even this one), but in the Maryland area pines with 5 needle clusters are usually white.  "Seeing Trees" rhapsodizes about the life cycle of white pines and urges you to look at the microscopic features of male and female cones as the seasons progress.  This is the tree that helped to start the Revolutionary War.  These pines may be too small to see much action, but worth checking during the year. Between the second and 3rd light pole are 3 spru...

This space for speculations, second hand information , that might have importance beyond the specific plants.  Open for comments from those with more specific knowledge. 1. Lead, Lichen, and LOAD (late onset Alzheimer's Disease)  We showed the lichen photos at the Natural History Society.  An observer noted that these trees must have been grown in a more remote possible more southern area which would have been almost free of air pollution, specifically lead pollution.  The east coast has been a lichen desert for years mainly due to lead pollution.  The lichen is not specific to any one tree, and in general lives on the surface of the bark and not harmful. The same day the internet was observing a possible decrease in Alzheimers and proposing it may be due to the gradual drop in lead after phasing the additive out of gasoline.  Other investigators were looking at the lead Alzheimers association. So interesting topics, the role of lead in history, lic...