The pictured tree is almost one hundred year old. It is a beautiful Sycamore public tree located at 16 S. Prospect Street in Verona. Platanus occidentalis is readily identifiable with broad, maplelike leaves and a trunk and limb complexion of mixed green, tan and cream. Some suggest it looks like camouflage. It is a member of one of the planet's oldest clan of trees (Platanaceae) and paleobotanists have dated the family to be over 100 million years old. Living sycamore trees can reach ages of five hundred to six hundred years. The deciduous sycamore is fast growing and sun-loving.Last October the 11th a NJ Certified Tree Expert inspected this tree (ISA Certified Arborist, former parks superintendent with Masters Degree in Botany) and reported that the tree is a healthy and sturdy sycamore that only needs a professional pruning.
But this public treasure is at risk of being taken down within two weeks! A property owner is concerned about falling branches that scratched her car and says it could happen again. The residents trying to save the tree understand those concerns but point out that there is no need to remove healthy trees to avoid branches from falling. It takes several years for tree branches to die and fall. That is why we encourage having the tree professionally pruned.
Join us to save a healthy tree while supporting our authorities working on this matter and addressing the concerns of the property owner at 16 S. Prospect Street. If you support this initiative, please e-mail us at veronatrees@gmail.com
Thank you!
What is so attractive about tree stumps?
ReplyDeleteI can NOT believe how easily centuries old trees are cut down!
Another case is the marvelous pair of gigantic oaks across from Windmere
on Lakeside. They are the pillars for that stairway entrance to Verona Park,
yet one is marked to be clear cut, when it only has one bad branch!
I challenge anyone to prove that majestic oak needs to be cut down!
I tried to take pictures today to mail to Joe DiVincenzo, but my digital camera malfunctioned.
I am so sick of the callous way Verona trees are cut down,
when all they need is pruning!
But I guess pruning requires intelligent maintenance,
and it is cheaper to cut 'em down and forget about it :(
I contacted Bill Wojtowicz, Verona Park Conservancy President, to clarify Campisi's concerns about Verona Park's Oaks. He told me to rest assured that all trees in Verona Park were inspected by a certified arborist and just because they are marked doesn't mean that they will be cut down. Some of those trees will be pruned. Going back to the healthy public tree located at 16 South Prospect Street, I hope that the report about the good health of the tree and the support from so many of the tree neighbors will save it from being removed.
ReplyDeleteI had an interesting talk with an expert tree "surgeon" from
ReplyDeleteTamarack Forestry Service, Inc.
He told me large old trees (like the elms, beeches, maples, oaks, in Verona Park)
can be topped off, literally topped off at 20, 30, 40 feet or more,
with no branches at all remaining, and a sealant applied to prevent core rot.
Within a year or two, the tree will sprout new branches from the trunk and begin to grow over the seal
(eventually covering the seal). The trees will provide summer aesthetics and shade,
and most importantly LIVE!
He also told me it was feasible to use Rebar and a filling material to reinforce some hollow trees
instead of cutting them down.
It really makes me wonder WHY so many beautiful trees are clearcut down to stumps in Verona?
Lack of commitment and lack of funds I guess.
It is easier to just dispose of the tree entirely, than to plan out and maintain a survival strategy.