Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Tree Tour

On Saturday, Ed Richardson led a tour of about 60 people around Elizabeth Park while Ed pointed out the notable trees in the park.  Ed calls himself a volunteer tree spotter and he is a leader of the Notable Tree Committee of the Connecticut Botanical Society.   Elizabeth Park was donated to the City of Hartford by Charles and Elizabeth Pond in 1902.  Fredrick Law Olmstead had a hand in laying out the park.  Many of the big trees in the park were planted in the first few years that the city owned the park.
The tree the group is looking at, however, is only about 50 years old.  It is a rare Dawn Redwood, planted around 1960.  It is already 100 feet high and Richardson estimates that it will grow to about 200 feet.

If the woman with the red hat in the center turned around, she would have the view from which I have been shooting the Annual Garden here, here and here

26 comments:

Kate said...

The tree already is of magnificent size. And, it looks like a goodly number of citizens are interested in their environment. Thanks for the links to your previous posts. What a difference from one season to another. Kudos to the people who are responsible for that lovely splash of colour.

Sharon said...

Looks like those wonderful tulips are framed by those big lush trees. Such a wonderful setting.

joo said...

It must have been really interesting tour - I love trees!

Sylvia K said...

It is a beautiful setting and what a lovely tree! The tulips are so colorful! Terrific capture for the day, Jack, as always! Wishing you a great day with lots of sunshine!!

Sylvia

Lois said...

Sounds like my kind of tour!

Leif Hagen said...

Ed, you tree champion you!
I love the second photo with all the tulips - lovely!

Malyss said...

A tree tour, what a good idea!Old and big trees seem to be like ancient and wise people to me..

lizziviggi said...

Oh, it's just beautiful! We have many trees here, but no notable ones that I'm aware of.

Genie -- Paris and Beyond said...

I think that this is wonderful. Quite often when I travel and ask someone "what kind of tree" they do not know and have been living in that spot their whole life!

Bises,
Genie

Karl said...

Very beautiful, a tulips heaven!

Amanda said...

Tulips - my favourite flower, so simple & beautiful.

youth_in_asia said...

That's a large tree considering it's so (relatively) young. The texture reminds me a little of Coast Redwoods in California. It's nice to see an event like this so well attended. It's also great that the park has been so well cared for.

RedPat said...

Lovely trees in the park. Your links set the stage for the tree spot perfectly - now we know right where you were!

cieldequimper said...

For once I wouldn't mind the crowd, I'd be enthralled.

SRQ said...

Quite a crowd for a tree tour -- impressive. Beautiful wide shot with the tree and the tulips. Thanks for your comment today, Jack. Without patience, I doubt I would have many photos!

VP said...

If this is a way to learn the names of the trees, just count me in!

Oakland Daily Photo said...

Isn't it fun to take these kinds of walks? You learn so much. This is the second post I've read this week that has referenced Fredrick Law Olmstead. He's considered to be America's first landscape architect and locally designed Golden Gate Park and Oakland's Mt. View Cemetery. He's a featured personality in Devil in the White City (a really good read) about the 1893 Chicago World's Fair (well, and a serial killer who operated during the fair). But I digress.

Virginia said...

We have so many beautiful trees here in B'ham, but unfortunately the storms have toppled too many!

You asked about the Blurb book on my blog today. I guess it wasn't too clear! Sorry. I just meant that if any of my readers had a favorite Paris Rouge photo that I had posted, to let me know so I could be sure and include it in the book I'm doing on Blurb. I'll probably not sell a one, but I think it will be fun to do it! :)
V

Regina K said...

Wish I were in that crowd on this tour.

brattcat said...

Dawn Redwood...what a beautiful name for a beautiful tree. That Olmstead...he sure knew his way around a garden, didn't he?

Lowell said...

Aha...now I've got a whole different view of that park...I'm impressed all over again. That is one magnificent tree. Probably is more sturdy than a water oak, too!

I used to have a motorcycle. I'd love to have a Harley. I can't afford a Harley. I'm probably too old, too. You buy one and I'll ride that on occasion. OK?

Dawn said...

A VOLUNTEER TREE-SPOTTER! I Like it!
Looks like he knows how to work a crowd too;)).....beautiful park!

Randy said...

That looks like something I would like. Great flowers.

Shannon said...

that would be a cool tour to participate in, looks like it had a big turn out.

Lynette said...

Great post, Jack. Thanks for the links to the other posts, too. Love the bull horn!

Cezar and Léia said...

I like a lot this idea, as I also love the nature!
The second composition is so beautiful with those flowers!
Léia