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The
University of Puget
Sound’s 2,000-plus campus trees,
range from Abies to Zelkova. Approximately 150-175
tree species are represented on the UPS campus, with about 22 native
species and 125-150 ornamental species. Currently, Facilities Services
is working on a master tree map which will provide exact names, numbers,
and locations.
Urban trees are important in that they provide
aesthetics, increase the quality of life, reduce noise pollution, act as
wind barriers (reducing heating needs within buildings), act as a useful
learning tool and natural laboratory, and create a connection to the
surrounding bioregion (native trees). In addition to benefiting
the campus community, urban trees help the environment by creating
wildlife habitat, providing shade (reducing evaporation), improving air
quality (by absorbing pollutants and releasing oxygen), conserving water
and soil (by reducing erosion and runoff), and fighting the greenhouse
effect.1
UPS Favorites
Old
Timers!
The
oldest trees on campus are probably the Douglas Firs (Pseudotsuga
menziesii)
closest to the Collins Memorial Library and Kilworth Memorial Chapel,
which are believed to precede the surrounding buildings.
Exotic Beauties!
The Dawn Redwoods (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) located
southwest of the library (two trees) and on the south side of the pool
(one tree) are an exotic addition to the campus. This tree species is a
deciduous conifer thought to be extinct until a small population was
discovered in its native China in 1941 by a forester. These trees are
personal favorites of Peter Wimberger, Professor of Biology.
Fall Color!
The American Sweet Gum (Liquidambar
styraciflua)
trees located in the Lawrence Street islands.
Staff Favorites!
Ed Cole’s (Lead Groundskeeper) favorite tree on campus is the
northern most of the two American Beech (Fagus grandifolia)
trees located on the east side of Jones Hall. Ed describes the tree as a
“grand and glorious specimen” with a “great history.” According to a
transcript of an interview with Dr. Franklin Thompson, students enrolled
at UPS when the campus moved from its Sixth Ave. and Sprague St.
location to its current location transplanted the two holly trees at the
entry to Sutton Quad and the two beech trees on the east side of Jones Hall. Unfortunately, the southern of the
two beech trees split in two during an ice storm. Other favorites
include the Giant Sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) in front of Wheelock
Student Center, the Yoshino Cherry (Prunus yedoensis)
on the east side of Todd Hall, and the Variegated Western Red Cedar
(Thuja
Plicata 'Zebrina')
on the west side of the Gamma Phi House.
This tour was created
in honor of Professor Gordon Alcorn (‘30). In addition to serving as a
Puget Sound biology professor, he acted as the Director of the Slater
Museum of Natural History from 1951-1972 and established their bird
collection in 1943. Along with Dr. Franklin Thompson, Alcorn oversaw the
planting of many of our current trees and preserved many of the trees
that preceded the building of the campus at its current location.
Special thanks to Ed Cole
and Dr. Betsy Kirkpatrick for assistance with the tree and plant
identification and for providing important historical information.
1.
SCFC Benefits of
Urban Trees;
“Urban
Forest” (Chesapeake Bay Program 2004);
Public Value of Nature: Economics of Urban
Trees, Parks and Open Space
(Kathleen L. Wolf, University of
Washington, College of Forest Resources 2004)
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In order for the tree tour to be
utilized as a learning tool, the images have been split by: full scale
views of the tress, leaves and needles, bark, flowers, dedications,
and other flora.
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Webpage and project content by:
Dr. Joel Elliott, University of Puget
Sound, Department of Biology
Liz Fly, University of Puget Sound, Department of Biology
Erin Spear, University of Puget Sound, Department of Biology
This project is funded by the
Northwest Academic Computing Consortium and the University of Puget
Sound .
    
jkelliott@ups.edu |
lfly@ups.edu | Send Feedback! |
