Although the popular myth of George Washington chopping down a cherry tree has been largely debunked, it IS true that many of our founding fathers had a penchant for native trees! Washington, Adams, and Jefferson were all farmers, and were never happier than when planning or working in their gardens. In honor of President’s Day, let’s take a look at some of their favorite trees–which we now know are essential to a healthy ecosystem.
At Mount Vernon, Washington planted white oak, poplar, locust sassafras, dogwood and maple, all transplanted from other parts of his estate. In addition to providing beauty and cooling shade, these plantings supported a great diversity of caterpillars and other members of the food web.
The ever-practical Adams was partial to the Prunus family, planting many varieties of apples, pears, plums and peaches. The underplantings of flowers such as columbine provided a beautiful living mulch –and a soft landing for caterpillars.
A passionate horticulturalist, Jefferson was always consumed with plans for Monticello’s gardens. Tulip poplar ( Liriodendron tulipfera) could be considered the favorite of all his treasured trees, as he called it “the Juno of our Groves”. He enthusiastically shared seeds with many friends and while serving as Minister to France (1784-1789), distributed the seeds of other choice North American native trees to European friends. (He might have been gratified to know that two of the tulip poplars he planted were still standing adjacent to the house at Monticello until 2008–providing habitat for more than 20 species of lepidopteran larvae.)
Back home again, he earned the title of ‘the father of American forestry” for an 1804 planting of white pine and hemlock, and during a dinner party, once stated that ”The unnecessary felling of a tree, perhaps the growth of centuries, seems to me a crime little short of murder.”
We couldn’t have said it better ourselves.
Happy President’s Day from the SBG!
