When you are able to give in-person
tree tours, what trees or ideas
are people most drawn to?
GSS: Eco Projects has organized and co-sponsored
tree tours in the Park, and I have led a few of those.
People are drawn to the English elm—its size and
age represent longevity and history. The only osage
orange (Maclura pomifera) in WSP has a remarkable
burl. The showy spring flowers of the cherries and
magnolias in particular and the overall dramatic
fall color in autumn also draw people to the Park.
On your blog you wrote about the
death of the WSP linden that may
have been due to excessive fill.
GSS: I am still emotional about the death of the
linden. It was an American linden (Tilia ameri-
cana) over 30 inches (76 cm) in diameter. Of all
the trees in the area where fill was added for the
lawn restoration project, I was most concerned
about the linden because this is a genus known to
be intolerant of excess fill. I expressed my concern
directly to the agency staff person responsible for
the project but the project proceeded as planned.
While I cannot definitely say that excessive fill killed
the linden, it appeared to be in good health imme-
diately prior to the fill project, and was dead the
following year. This situation highlights the need
for a tree management plan for WSP, something
Eco Projects—and I, on a personal level—would
like to see developed. On behalf of Eco Projects, I
have reached out to the NYC Parks Department to
begin a conversation about a succession plan for
the park. There are many large trees in the Park,
and a management plan would include guide-
lines for construction around mature trees. >>
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