Category: Trees

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 4/24/24 Observation Time: 7:15 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Shagbark Hickory Tree Scientific Name: Carya ovata Comments: Shagbark hickory trees can grow over 100 feet tall. Shagbark hickory nuts are edible and provided nutrition to Native Americans. More Information: Wikipedia

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/23/23 Observation Time: 7:35 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon WIldlife Sanctuary (boardwalk) Common Name: Alder Buckthorn Scientific Name: Frangula alnus Comments: Alder buckthorn, also known as glossy buckthorn, is a tall shrub. I saw a hummingbird moving from tiny blossom to tiny blossom. Otherwise I probably would not have noticed that it was in bloom. I also saw some […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/16/23 Observation Time: 4:55 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Ash Tree (diseased) Scientific Name: genus Fraxinus Comments: This tree was killed by emerald ash borer beetles, which have killed millions of ash trees and threaten the future of ash trees. More Information: Britannica

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/6/23 Observation Time: 10:15 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Carolina Silverbell tree Scientific Name: Halesia carolina Comments: Carolina silverbell is a vigorous, fast-growing deciduous shrub or tree growing to 8 m (26 ft) tall by 10 m (33 ft) broad, bearing masses of pendent, bell-shaped white flowers which appear in spring. The flowers are followed by green, four-winged fruit. The leaves […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/24/21 Observation Time: 3:40 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR) Common Name: Amur Cork Tree Scientific Name: Phellodendron amurense Comments: Phellodendron amurense is a perennial tree that can grow from 35-45 ft. (10-14 m) tall. The tree has a short trunk with spreading branches. The bark is thick and corky. This tree is demonstrating invasive characteristics in suburban and urban fringe forests. It escapes […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/21/20 Observation Time: 4:35 p.m. Observation Location: Corner of Gavins Pond Rd. and Col. Gridley Rd. Common Name: Small-leaved Linden Tree Scientific Name: Tilia cordata Comments: Tilia cordata, commonly called small-leaved linden or little-leaf linden, is native to Europe. It has been widely planted in the U.S. as an ornamental shade tree because of its (a) attractive foliage, (b) dense, low-branched, pyramidal to ovate […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/9/20 Observation Time: 5:00 p.m. Observation Location: conservation land across the street from the Gavins Pond soccer fields Common Name: Eastern Redcedar Tree Scientific Name: Juniperus virginiana Comments: Birds love its berries. More Information: Arbor Day Foundation

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/9/20 Observation Time: 2:40 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond dam Common Name: Norway Maple Tree Scientific Name: Acer Platanoides Comments: The Norway maple is native to eastern and central Europe and western Asia, from France east to Russia, north to southern Scandinavia and southeast to northern Iran. It was brought to North America in the mid-1700s as a shade tree. It is quite common […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/9/20 Observation Time: 2:40 p.m. Observation Location: meadow near Gavins Pond dam Common Name: Gray Birch Tree Scientific Name: Betula populifolia Comments: Gray Birch is a small tree reaching a height of 20 to 30 feet. Bark is grayish white with little exfoliation compared to River Birch. Leaves are triangular with a narrow point, doubly serrated and fall color is light yellow. Branches […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/9/20 Observation Time: 2:00 p.m. Observation Location: near soccer parking lot on Gavins Pond Road Common Name: Bigtooth Aspen Tree Scientific Name: Populus grandidentata Comments: Bigtooth Aspen (Populusgrandidentata) is a native deciduous tree, which grows throughout northeastern North America. It is a member of the willow family. A fast-growing, but short-lived, pioneer species, Bigtooth Aspen attains heights of 60 to 80 feet. More Information: […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/31/20 Observation Time: 5:15 p.m. Observation Location: Trustees of Reservations’ Moose Hill Farm Common Name: Black Gum Tree Scientific Name: Nyssa sylvatica Comments: Also known as black tupelo, this is one of the most attractive native trees around. Summer leaves are a dark green with a high-gloss appearance, but the most spectacular part of this tree is the fall foliage with many […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/20/20 Observation Time: 10:20 a.m. Observation Location: near Gavins Pond Common Name: Yellow Birch Tree Scientific Name: Betula alleghaniensis Comments: A large and important lumber species of birch native to North-eastern North America. It has shaggy bark. More Information: Wikipedia

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/3/20 Observation Time: 9:30 a.m. Observation Location: near Gavins Pond Common Name: Crabapple tree Scientific Name: Malus spp. Comments: Crabapple trees have lovely pink and white blossoms in spring. The apples they produce are tiny. More Information: Crabapple tree indentification

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 6/23/19 Observation Time: 10:45 p.m. Observation Location: Billings Loop Botanical Trail Common Name: American Hornbeam Scientific Name: Carpinus caroliniana Comments: The common English name hornbeam derives from the hardness of the wood (likened to animal horn) and the Old English beam, meaning “tree” (cognate with German Baum). The American hornbeam is also occasionally known as blue-beech, ironwood, or musclewood, the first […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/27/19 Observation Time: 2:15 p.m. Observation Location: Conservation land near Morse & Lakeview Common Name: Yellow Birch Tree Scientific Name: Betula alleghaniensis Comments: A large and important lumber species of birch native to North-eastern North America. It has shaggy bark. More Information: Wikipedia

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/19/19 Observation Time: 3:45 p.m. Observation Location: Billings Loop Botanical Trail Common Name: Pignut Hickory Tree Scientific Name: Carya glabya Comments: This tree is one of many plants identified along a botanical trail established by Kurt Buermann, President of the Sharon Friends of Conservation. More Information: Wikipedia

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/19/19 Observation Time: 3:25 p.m. Observation Location: Billings Loop Botanical Trail Common Name: American Witchhazel Scientific Name: Hamamelis virginiana Comments: This specimen was observed in a shady, wooded area near the Sharon Friends of Conservation botanical trail. More Information: Carolina Nature

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/19/19 Observation Time: 3:10 p.m. Observation Location: Billings Loop Botanical Trail Common Name: American Beech Tree Scientific Name: Fagus grandifolia Comments: These specimens were observed in a shady, wooded area. The American Beech is a shade-tolerant species, favoring shade more than other trees, commonly found in forests in the final stage of succession. Ecological succession is essentially the process of forests changing their […]

Observer: Deborah Radovsky   Observation Date: 12/20/18 Observation Time: early morning Observation Location: Conservation trail near the lake (dog park trail) Common Name: White Pine Scientific Name: Pinus strobus Comments: White pines can live over 500 years and grow to more than 150 feet tall. More Information: Wikipedia O

Observer: Kathy Farrell Observation Date: 10/31/18 Observation Location: Mountain Street area Common Name: Witchhazel Scientific Name: Hamamelis virginiana Comments: Small tree, very common in some areas off Mountain Street. Known for reducing skin inflammations such as acne. Used by Native Americans for dousing sticks to find water. Small yellow blossoms in October. Leaves turn yellow in autumn. More Information: https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/hamamelis_virginiana.shtml

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/7/18 Observation Time: 3:15 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR) Common Name: Butternut (White Walnut) Scientific Name: Juglans cinerea Comments: Butternut is a deciduous tree growing to 20 m (66 ft) tall, rarely 40 m (130 ft). Butternut is a slow-growing species, and rarely lives longer than 75 years. It has a 40–80 cm (16–31 in) stem diameter, with light gray bark. More Information: Wikipedia and Arbor Day Foundation

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/22/18 Observation Time: 9:35 a.m. Observation Location: banks of Beaver Brook (upstream of the tennis courts) Common Name: Atlantic White Cedar tree Scientific Name: Chamaecyparis thyoides Comments: Atlantic White Cedars live almost exclusively in freshwater wetlands and are considered an obligate wetland species. They prefer habitats where the soil is saturated with water at least during the majority of the growing season. Though this tree […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/22/18 Observation Time: 10:55 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Carolina Silverbell tree Scientific Name: Halesia carolina Comments: Carolina silverbell is a vigorous, fast-growing deciduous shrub or tree growing to 8 m (26 ft) tall by 10 m (33 ft) broad, bearing masses of pendent, bell-shaped white flowers which appear in spring. The flowers are followed by green, four-winged fruit. The leaves […]

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/22/18 Observation Time: 10:45 a.m. Observation Location: Town-owned conservation land near Sandy Ridge Circle Common Name: American Beech tree Scientific Name: Fagus grandifolia Comments: The American Beech is a shade-tolerant species, favoring shade more than other trees, commonly found in forests in the final stage of succession. Ecological succession is essentially the process of forests changing their composition through time; it is a pattern […]

Observer: Deborah  Radovsky Observation Date: 11/10/17 Observation time:  unknown Observation Location: Moose Hill, Vernal Pool Trail Common Name: White Pine Scientific Name: Pinus strobus Comments: White pines are very common in Sharon. More Information: Wikipedia