Arboretum status: Trees well and blooming

Sarah Goetz Staff Writer

Since Matthew Vassar initiated plans for an arboretum in 1865, the College’s trees have been an essential feature of the campus. However, a rumor blew through campus recently that the Vassar arboretum was no more.

Fortunately, Associate Executive Director of Buildings and Grounds Jeff Horst was ready and able to dispel the buzz. Horst explained that you can call something an arboretum as long as it is “a large collection of trees in a landscape setting.” Vassar, with more than 230 different species of trees, certainly qualifies. But even if the College’s flora weren’t as impressive, Horst said that “no one entity can say it is not an arboretum, because it is here.” In other words, no one can take away Vassar’s arboretum title; nor has anyone sought to do so.

Doubts about the status of the arboretum stems from concern over trees that Buildings and Grounds staff spray-painted with an orange X and then cut down last spring. But according to Horst the “x-marks-the-spot” cull was only routine maintenance, a normal part of “managing this large a garden in terms of aesthetics and safety.”

Trees are normally cut down when their branches pose a threat to students, threaten to interfere with various buildings, or have become infected with various pests and diseases. Tree health may be a larger issue at Vassar than at other arboretums because it does not use any form of pesticide. “We are willing to lose some plant material,” he said, if in the end students are safer and “the environment…wins out.”

Students were happy to learn of Vassar’s student -and environment-safe gardening practices. Amanda Jones ’10 said that “in light of global climate concerns, every environmentally-minded gesture is important,” such as maintaining a diverse collection of plants and trees and preserving them with natural methods.

While some trees have to be cut down, Horst assured that new additions to Vassar’s family of
trees more than account for any losses, and the Vassar tradition of class trees helps keep the campus leafy. The Class of 1868 began this custom, planting their tree in a secret, ritualistic nighttime meeting. Since then the tradition has flourished along the trees, and each class has had the opportunity to provide the campus grounds with something unique. Horst notes that the tradition “gives us an opportunity to look for new things,” and that they are “absolutely looking for diversity” within the arboretum.

While the arboretum status remains, there will be some definite landscape changes as a result of the second stage of the Raymond Avenue construction. Part of the proposed construction, slated to commence in Spring 2008, includes tearing down the fence that separates the campus from Collegeview Avenue and installing new power and utility lines underground. This renovation entails cutting down between 60 and 70 trees along that north side of campus. Horst said that the removal of these trees is necessary to open the campus, and is part of an effort to provide a “pleasant transition from Vassar into the business district.” He added that “a new landscape will be put in after construction is completed.”

Fortunately, Horst and Buildings and Grounds are thinking along those same lines. They are installing new tree plates and updating a tree map, while a book is currently being written about Vassar’s trees. The removal of a few trees around campus in no way signifies the end of Vassar’s status as an arboretum. As Horst said, “the arboretum is very much alive. It is quite intact, and growing.”

Students are glad the trees are safe, as many were disappointed that they only hear about the trees when they thought they were in trouble. Peter Rotundo ’09 would like to see a greater abundance of information about the health and status of the arboretum made available. Rotundo noted, “I wish there was more information, or that it was more easily accessible to students.”