Green Mosaic of Opportunity
have always wanted to “speak for the trees” like the protagonist in The Lorax. I am not alone—most every kid from the 1970s to our present incoming class knows Dr. Seuss’s classic tale. The idea that trees are fragile seems incongruous. They stand as visions of strength in all their beauty, majesty, and tireless work to provide life-giving oxygen. Yet they are fragile, and on Plymouth State’s beautiful campus, our trees are no exception, which is why our Adopt-a-Tree program is taking root.
When I moved to Plymouth in 2022, as a lifelong gardener and lover of green things, I could not help but admire the many and various campus trees. I took a tree tour with Professor Rachelle Lyons ’11, ’13G, and was stunned by:
- The dawn redwood, thought to be extinct but rediscovered in China in the 1940s and brought over to North America;
- The Nootka cypress, which contains chemical compounds now being explored as tick and mosquito repellent;
- The Katsura (or burnt sugar tree) that exudes a deliciously potent aroma of burnt sugar in later fall as its leaves turn brown;
- The paperbark maple that looks to me, not much like a maple with its strange cinnamon-like bark and small leaves;
…and so many more!
“I find it so fulfilling showing anyone and everyone the diversity of trees on the PSU campus, whatever the season, as there are so many interesting biological, cultural, and historical stories,” says McGarry. “On tree tours, we can focus on colorful foliage, special pollinators, beautiful flowers, edible fruit, and distinct patterns in bark. I want to share our unique tree resources with anyone stepping foot on campus, as a visitor, student, or alumni. I am always observing and learning new information about our trees.”
Our exceptional trees are the living legacy of Steve Sweedler, who planted them as the University’s campus horticulture specialist over a 35-year career until his retirement in 2011.
The Plymouth State University Tree Advisory Committee, guided by Professor Lyons, includes students who are committed to supporting campus trees. Many have been trained as tree tour guides. “PSU has remarkable trees that help us know and understand nature and our place within it,” Lyons explains. “This collection was started by people who came generations before us and now we enjoy the fruits of their efforts. How we care for the tree community is a reflection of how we care for and honor our PSU community; past, present, and future.”
Visitors are struck by the trees that grace our charming campus and the lovely town of Plymouth, but what they don’t see is that this comes with being guardians of the majestic beauties. Trees need care. Our hard-working Physical Plant staff are all committed to campus beautification and tree care, but it can be difficult to attend to the forest of seasonal tasks that our arbored campus requires.
This is why the Adopt-a-Tree program is so important: it gives students, alumni, and community members an opportunity to help care for campus trees, which is a special gift in itself! Trees can be “adopted” in honor of a graduate or loved one, and students share the love as tree guides. Each adoption provides more support for tree care as we build toward endowment status, assisting Physical Plant’s efforts while highlighting our remarkable campus trees.
We encourage all tree lovers to become adopters. To learn more please visit https://adoptplymouthtrees.com. Looking ahead, in concert with the Adopt-A-Tree Program, the Museum of the White Mountains is planning an installation for fall 2025.