Quercus velutina, black oak, is a large deciduous tree native to the eastern half of the United States. The wood is good for flooring and furniture making but lacks the level of rot resistance needed for applications such as boatbuilding. As with all oaks, black oaks provide habitat for an incredible diversity of fungi, insects, birds, and mammals, and the acorns are even edible for humans. Another fun fact is that the inner bark creates a yellow dye named quercitron, which was popularly used in the 1800s before synthetic dyes were created.

At Bayard Cutting Arboretum, we have several old black oak trees in Oak Park. While we don’t know the exact age of these trees, we do know that they existed before the building of the Manor House in 1886 and were selected by Frederick Law Olmsted to be the showcase trees in his design. An arboretum is a “museum of trees”, a place where unusual and old trees can live out their lives. With some careful management these trees could potentially live another century, although not in the form we may typically expect from an oak.

Due to extensive land clearing during the settlement of North America, we do not have much experience with trees that may be hundreds of years old. The care and management of such trees is an ongoing topic of discussion within the arboriculture community. At the arboretum, we must consider numerous points of perspective when determining a management plan for a specific tree. Some of which include age, condition, ecological value, and historical significance.

One way to preserve a great old oak is as simple as installing a fence around it. An example is one of our largest and oldest oaks (U-FL59) on the Great Lawn. This oak (like many of our other black oaks) is at least 200 years old. Its age and its historical significance in the development of this landscape make it an important tree to conserve.

Another way to manage such trees is to take a more hands on approach with retrenchment pruning. Retrenchment pruning is the practice of deliberately and selectively reducing the crown of an elderly tree to reduce the size and encourage a new canopy. Trees will do this naturally as they age. When this occurs depends on the natural life span of the species, but a black oak could live for hundreds of years before it begins to develop a new lower canopy. Natural retrenchment is advantageous to the tree because it keeps its structural integrity and photosynthetic capability intact while reducing its overall size, thereby reducing the potential for massive failure.

As mentioned before, retrenchment leads to a form we may not be familiar with among oaks. It can take many years for a tree to adjust into a manageable size. As arborists, we need to adhere to the tree’s timeline and avoid forcing the tree into a desirable shape, so as not to bring about the tree’s death prematurely. We have recently begun to apply retrenchment pruning to some of the older oaks in our collection. This is a new practice to the arboretum, but we are hopeful it will help us extend the life of several black oaks for decades.

-Jessica O'Callahan, Horticulture Coordinator

The Bayard Cutting Arboretum was fortunate enough to have the Long Island Arboricultural Association (LIAA) host their Arbor Day event on March 18th. We spent the day with passionate, talented arborists willing to share their skills, equipment and time working on historic trees. The LIAA is a non-profit organization that thrives to stimulate interest by teaching proper planting and preservation, educating the public, encouraging research for the adequate protection of trees and shrubs, and promoting the use of efficient and proper arboricultural methods. It is made up of certified arborists and plant enthusiasts that support Long Island landscapes and best tree practices.

The LIAA hosts an Arbor Day event annually. They have been sponsoring this event since 1990, donating hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of skilled tree work over the years. Their work spans local, county, state and federal parks and preserves across the island. We have been fortunate to have the LIAA host many events at the arboretum. This Arbor Day event was truly a wonderful experience and successful day!

An estimated 100 arborists representing over 15 arboricultural companies joined us on March 18th. By 7:00 am we had every type of equipment imaginable in our parking lot! This included bucket trucks, chippers, spider lifts, a crane, air spade and an unlimited amount of hand tools. The LIAA board and arboretum staff prepped for two years organizing this event. A master list of important pruning projects was shared with the LIAA board and delegated to the 100 arborists that morning. The coordination and management was beautifully carried out by everyone.

Tree work was completed throughout the whole arboretum. Tree work was delegated by zones and type of care needed. The Holly Walk received a facelift with skilled hand pruning and shaping. The Carriage House has safety pruning and removals to protect the historic building and patrons. The arboretum entrance has a large, decaying Norway maple removed with a crane. The Four Season Garden has a stunning Japanese Zelkova (1987-OP624) that was airspaded to reinvigorate the roots and counteract compaction. The New Pinetum had a dead Norway spruce removed to make the paths safer.

The largest project was pruning Oak Park. To protect Olmsted’s design and the health of the 200 oaks, we were so pleased to have professionals care for them. It is an amazing opportunity for an arborist to work on such historic, valuable trees. We appreciate how much care and enthusiasm each and every arborist presented. It was also an amazing experience to see up to 15 climbers throughout Oak Park working fearlessly in these oaks! The timing couldn’t be more perfect as our visitor center and new parking lots will be opening Spring 2024.

Lastly, the LIAA donated and planted a new tree at our front gate in the Wind Break. Historically, the arboretum has towering Norway Spruces (Picea abies) along Montauk Hwy to protect the landscape and tree collections. We lost a few with old age and have been eager to replace them. We are so fortunate to have received a beautiful Norway Spruce that you can now view at the entrance of the arboretum (2023-0001). It was a special way for the LIAA to contribute to our historical landscape and watch the tree grow for decades to come.

Overall, the LIAA estimated $100,000 of work donated in volunteer hours at Bayard Cutting Arboretum. All of this incredible tree work was completed within four hours! Every volunteer showed up for a hot lunch, tee-shirt, and a day of sharing their love of arboriculture. As a public entity, this event has made an enormous difference to our landscape. We would like to specifically thank Evan Dackow (LIAA president) and Joe Patrone (vice president) for their great efforts in putting the day together. Thank you to the LIAA board and zone leaders for making Arbor Day a great success. And lastly, a huge thank you for all the arborists and volunteers’ generosity. (Amazing photos by Bob Dackow)

-Joy Arden, Landscape Curator

This month we had the privilege of hosting a group of AmeriCorps volunteers for one week. These 9 individuals assisted us on Paradise Island, a sensitive ecosystem that desperately needed some attention! They removed invasive vines from the entrance, replaced the decrepit fence, and widened the trail that has been increasingly narrowed by Phragmites. Their hard work means we will be able to open Paradise Island for special guided tours. We want to give a big thank you to our volunteers, the AmeriCorps organization, and Planting Fields Foundation for the amazing support.

An intimate view of our early blooming Taiwan cherry tree (Prunus 'Okame') located at the main gate.

Date: Friday, April 14, 2023

Time: 5:30 – 7:30 PM

Cost: $50 per person

You are invited to join our Director and Grounds Docents for a relaxing evening tour of our most recent garden projects. After your tour, relax on the porch and enjoy a glass of wine, and light fare served by the Manor House Servants. This is a special event limited to 25 patrons.

Saturday, April 29, 2023

10:00 am - 2:00 pm

Come visit our tent outside of the Upper Carriage House to receive our Arbor Day giveaways and learn about future events at the BCA.

The Arbor Day Poster Contest is open to children Kindergarten to Fifth grade. We are asking students to come up with specific reasons why we all need and love trees with your classmates. Then, on an 8 X 11 paper/poster, please provide a horizontal drawing of why trees are important to YOU. All posters will be displayed in the Upper Carriage House from 10-2PM.

CSA Farm at 1:00 pm

(meet at the Farm, park near Dahlia Garden)

Since 2014, Victoria has been offering watercolor workshops on the grounds of the Bayard Cutting Arboretum bringing patrons in to paint the beautiful surroundings, learn and practice a new skill and have a fun, relaxing day of painting.

All supplies are provided and no experience is necessary. You will be given hands on instruction, demonstration and guidance to create your masterpiece! Then spend the afternoon walking around the gardens and paths along the river and enjoy a lunch or tea at the Hidden Oak Café.

Please visit our website for her 2023 workshop schedule. You may also call Victoria if you have any question at (631) 374-2099

A Solo Exhibit by Acrylic Artist Chris Gordon

Date: March 30 – April 24, 2023

Exhibit Hours: Thursdays – Sundays 11AM – 4PM

Artist Reception: Sunday, April 16, 2023

Location: Annex

Call Main Office for more information. 631-581-1002