Schenectady, N.Y. (April 26, 2002) – Just as the flowering trees are at their peak and homeowners begin their landscaping projects, Union College is launching a Web site that showcases some of the distinctive trees on the historic campus. The site was officially launched on Arbor Day.
The site, available at www.union.edu/Trees, provides a “virtual tour” of the campus focused on arboreal wonders of the 100-acre campus in the heart of Schenectady.
By selecting from more than 30 trees on the tour, users can see a photograph of
the tree and read about its history from college arborist Paul Freemantle, who prepared the site with Tom Smith, Union's Web director. Also included on the site are a brief description of the history of the college grounds, a checklist for birders, and links to related information.
“Union has a real treasure trove of trees from around the world,” said Freemantle of the College's grounds. “This site will provide everyone – from landscape architects
to hobby gardeners – with a good sense for what these mature trees look like
and the conditions they need to thrive. This site also serves as a valuable
introduction for those who would like to visit the campus to see the trees.”
Some of the trees at Union were planted shortly after the College moved to its present location in 1812. (The College was founded in 1795 in downtown Schenectady.) Among the older species are a white oak just north of West College, and some black walnuts along Library Lane that are believed to be planted by Eliphalet Nott, president of Union College from 1804 to 1866. Professor James Underwood, who
is retiring this year, has donated a number of black walnut saplings to succeed those planted 180 years before.
Union's campus, with its famous Jackson's Garden – a garden and woodland – has long been a favorite destination for visitors. In 1999, the College received an award for campus beautification from the American Society of Landscape Architects Award, one of 20 colleges and universities in the country to be so designated.