×

Putting down roots

Paul Smith’s College students Emily Cummin, left, and Freshman Nick Pereau plant a black walnut tree on campus on Arbor Day, Friday. Cummin said the black walnut leaves on their own look pretty standard, but got she and Pereau got excited talking about how, on the branch there are many leaflets — which look like individual leaves — making up one leaf on a stalk. This is what’s called a “compound leaf.” (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

PAUL SMITHS — Arboriculture students at Paul Smith’s College planted around 30 trees on Arbor Day, Friday — the largest mass planting of trees at the college in a long time.

Forestry Instructor Joe Riley said usually, they’re cutting down trees. On Friday, they were planting them.

On past Arbor Days, they’ve planted individual trees. But the arboriculture class has grown a lot — it doubled in size in the past few years and has 17 students this year — so he decided to let them all have a hand in the planting.

Students talked about their trees lasting for “1,000 years,” or at least coming back in 20 to 30 years to give their tree a climb.

They dug holes and planted sycamore, tulip poplar, bald cypress, bur oak, Kentucky coffee, white oak, forsythia and black gum.

Paul Smith’s College Sophomore Meredith Valley throws dirt as she plants a bald cypress on campus. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

The college is also growing its tree nursery, led by Associate Professor of Forestry Justin Waskiewicz, so they hope to have more to supply in future years. This year, the nursery provided Kentucky coffee and bur oak trees.

Other trees came from Cold Stream Farm in Michigan. Riley said they ordered trees from a place with a cold climate so they can better weather the harsh Adirondack winters.

The black gum trees they planted are a bit of an “experiment” to see if they last. The Adirondacks are sort of the edge of their zone. These trees were planted where they will be sheltered and students will take care of the trees for years to come.

Sophomore Meredith Valley said they were planting a wide range of trees — including many not native to the Adirondacks — to get more unique trees on campus. Along with aesthetics, future classes will use these trees to practice their dendrology skills, including tree identification.

Right now, they have to travel to the Champlain Basin to see sycamore, black walnut or white oak trees.

Paul Smith’s College students, from left, Freshman Magan Blake, Sophomore Casey Beltrani and Freshman Gabriella Carvalho plant a tulip tree on campus on Arbor Day, Friday. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

In the future, Riley said they want to “share the wealth with the community” and plant along with the public on Arbor Day.

Paul Smith’s College Freshman Hazyn Stannard, left, and Senior Jacob O’Brien plant a bald cypress on campus on Arbor Day, Friday. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

Paul Smith’s College Sophomore McKenna Verhagen digs a mulch ring while Sophomore Meredith Valley throws dirt as they plants a bald cypress on campus on Arbor Day, Friday. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

Paul Smith’s College arboriculture students planted around 30 trees on campus on Arbor Day, Friday. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Marbone)

Starting at $4.75/week.

Subscribe Today