Author Archives: John Krygier

Free Earth Day Trees!!

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Trees for your yard may be available through a grant. We will know if the grant has been funded in April. You may request the following trees on a first come first serve basis. Please respond today if possible.

Contact: Pete Kovaric: pkovarik@cscc.edu

Please research these trees carefully, as tree heights vary. Image and information on each tree species can be found below.

Small Trees (up to 30′)

Hop Tree – Ptelea trifoliate

Ptelea_trifoliata_MN_2007

Hop Tree:  An Ohio native tree with fragrant yellowish-green flowers.  It is a host to the Giant Swallowtail butterfly.  The seeds of the Hop Tree were once used as substitutes for hops.   The tree also has medicinal uses.  It grows in full sun to shade to about 20′ tall.

Medium Trees – (30′-60′)

Hophornbeam – Ostrya virginiana

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Hophornbeam:  An Ohio native tree that has dark green leaves.  It attracts birds and butterflies.  It is a slow-growing tree that averages about 1-2′ per year of growth.  It grows in full sun to shade and grows about 40 tall.

Large Trees – (60’+)

Basswood – Tilia americana

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Basswood:  An Ohio native tree with fragrant yellow flowers in June.  Flowers are used to make tea.  Syrup can be made from the sweet sap.  This tree is good for honey production and attracts birds and butterflies.  It grows in full sun and grows to about 80′ tall.

Black Cherry – Prunus Serotina

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Black Cherry:   An Ohio native tree that supports over 400 species of butterflies and moths.  It has clusters of white flowers in the spring and red cherries in the summer that mature into dark purple.  The fruit from this tree can be used to make jams and wine.  It also has medicinal uses.  It grows in full sun to part shade and gets about 80′ tall.

Bur Oak – Quercus macrocarpa

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Bur Oak:  An Ohio native tree that is very important for wildlife and is a host to many moths and butterflies.  It has very large leaves (4-12″ long) and sweet acorns with a distinctive fringe.  This tree grows in full sun to part shade and grows to about 80′ tall.

Red Oak – Quercus rubra

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Red Oak:  An Ohio native tree that is fast growing, a 10-year-old Red Oak can be 20′ tall.  The leaves turn yellow to red in the autumn.   Many species of butterflies and moths use this tree as a host plant.  This tree grows in full sun to part shade and grows to about 60′ tall.

How About This Instead of a Car Wash?

Rendition of High St. over Glen Echo Ravine looking south-east towards the Portal Park and Arcadia Ave. intersection. The former White Castle site is “day lighted” exposing the Ravine and Run.

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Update: More on How to Help Glen Echo Ravine

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To help us oppose the zoning request discussed in the previous blog post please contact your City Council Member as soon as possible indicating your opposition to the zoning change for 2725 North High St., the old White Castle location built on Glen Echo Ravine and Run.

The rezoning application is being heard by both the Clintonville Area Commission and the University Area Commission as the property in question crosses the boundary between the districts – it is literally on top of the Ravine and Run. The CAC and UAC will send their recommendation to the Development Commission which makes a final recommendation to City Council Members who will decide on the request for a zoning change.

If you are taking time to write to the Clintonville commissioners, copy all the councilmembers too; its never to soon to write them.

Contact your council member – indeed all of them – through their aids:

Andrew J. Ginther
Legislative Aide: Kenneth Paul
Email: kcpaul@columbus.gov (614) 645-2931

A. Troy Miller
Legislative Aide: Jeanette Hawkins
Email: jdhawkins@columbus.gov (614) 645-2013

Hearcel F. Craig
Legislative Aide: Sherry Martin
Email: simartin@columbus.gov (614) 645-8538

Zachary M. Klein
Legislative Aide: Gretchen James
mail: gdjames@columbus.gov (614) 645-5346

Michelle M. Mills
Interm Legislative Aide: Annie Marsico
Email: aemarsico@columbus.gov (614) 645-5344

Eileen Y. Paley  
Legislative Aide: Nancy Sully
Email: npsully@columbus.gov (614) 645-2010

Priscilla R. Tyson
Legislative Aide: Carl Williams
Email: cgwilliams@columbus.gov (614) 645-2933

Updated Urban Arboretum Tree Walk Maps

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We have updated our two Arboretum walk maps, and digital copies are available here at the blog (in this posting and at the Maps tab above). A new printing of the maps will happen in the future, but for now only old versions of the walk maps are available on paper at the Arboretum kiosk.

For the time being, you can print the new maps yourself – legal size or tabloid. The latter, in color, costs a few bucks at a copy shop.

We added a few species of trees, replaced a few markers, placed the markers in Glen Echo Park, removed a few (now dead) trees from the routes, and added some additional information to each map; the color of the tree symbol indicates if it is newly planted or mature, and the orientation of the symbol shows which direction the tree can be found from the walk.

Please contact John Krygier (jbkrygier@owu.edu) if you have any additional corrections or comments on the maps.

Until next time!

Lower Olentangy Urban Arboretum Blog

Welcome to the Lower Olentangy Urban Arboretum blog.

This site will include details and news about our urban arboretum project as well as resources and information relevant to the ecology of our area.