July Newsletter
Expanding The Herbarium
Our summer interns are hard at work expanding the collection of the Aquidneck Island Herbarium.

This library of plant specimens contains a wealth of information about the botanic character of Aquidneck Island.

The race is on to collect as many specimens as possible while the island's plants are looking their best. Our focus this summer is on collecting samples from the Heritage Trees we are currently growing at the Tree House.
Are Your New Trees Getting Enough Water?
Water is often the key factor in the success of a new tree. If you planted a new tree this year, it needs water.

Make sure to keep your tree's soil moist, but not waterlogged.

Water trees at least once a week, barring rain, and more frequently during hot, windy weather. An irrigation bag, available at most hardware stores, can help to provide consistent water to your new tree.

When the soil is dry below the surface of the mulch, it is time to water. Continue until mid-fall, tapering off as lower temperatures require less-frequent watering.
Grafted Trees Growing Strong
The newest group of Newport Heritage Trees, grafted late last winter, are taking shape. Our Heritage Trees have been grown by seed or grafted from many of the Newport's oldest and most culturally significant trees.

Over the past few weeks we've been hard at work re-potting these young trees as they outgrow their containers. That's no small feat, over 130 individual Heritage Trees are now growing up at the Tree House!


New Threat to Beech Trees Detected
We've received word that the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM) has confirmed the presence of Beech Leaf Disease in western portions of the the state.

Early symptoms of BLD include dark striping on the tree’s leaves parallel to the leaf veins and are best seen by looking upward into the backlit canopy. Both fully mature and very young, emerging leaves show symptoms.

There have yet to be any sightings on Aquidneck Island, but we'll be keeping an eyes on our local beeches for any signs of the disease.

RIDEM is encouraging homeowners to monitor their beech trees and report any suspected cases of Beech Leaf Disease on RIDEM’s  Invasive Species Sighting Report  webpage.