James Pass Arboretum

Rain gardens are a unique approach of diverting the flow of impurities from Onondaga Lake however they were installed to beautify the dog park rather than develop the arboretum. They were also designed without regard for the forces of nature that have debased the arboretum for decades. Consequently they are a drain on resources available to maintain the arboretum. It is still possible to save them as purposeful (diverting impurities) while reducing the drain of resources. I...t would first require that the City of Syracuse embrace the concept of an arboretum. https://www.facebook.com/notes/tim-regin/embrace-the-concept/10153719228302649 One step towards the reduction of resources unnecessarily wasted would be to concentrate on developing shrubs that spread by root suckering and protecting those shrubs from deer browsing. This video shows the one red osier dogwood that has grown to be tall enough to show growth that is out of reach of deer browse. Red osier dogwood if protected would sucker to form thickets which would shade the ground and reduce the proliferation of woody weed growth. Gray dogwood is another that would spread by suckering. This video was the 5th of a series on the suppression of weed growth and shows the same shrub 2 years ago. https://www.facebook.com/129906577168305/videos/1076438229181797 The previous video from May 3, further illustrates weed suppression by suckering shrubs. https://www.facebook.com/JamesPassArboretum/videos/864104414067919 See more

During the early 1970s most deciduous shrubs and bushy Junipers were removed from the arboretum for a number of reasons some good and some bad. The first reason was a perception that trees and not shrubs are essential to an arboretum. Another was that shrubs and the lower growth of conifers were places that violent criminals could hide. Both of those reasons are fallacious but persist to this day. A better reason is that trees which are shade tolerant would seed in beneath t...he shrubs. When not removed they would outgrow the shrubs. Often they would shade and displace the host shrub. Others remained when the shrubs were removed. In previous videos I’ve shown how shade can suppress the proliferation of those self-seeded ‘volunteers’. The stinging nettle shades the ground keeping it cooler. Any seed that does germinate is deprived of light and won’t survive. I’ve also shown how shrubs that spread by root suckering like red osier dogwood in the rain garden can spread if allowed and protected. In April of 2006 I gave away the ornamental shrubs in mt front yard so that I could use the space to grow shrubs for transplanting to James Pass Arboretum. In December of that year I learned that barriers constructed by the city would render my quest impossible. Most of the shrubs in my front yard should have been moved in 3-4 years from the time they were planted. When I cut back the Oak leaf Hydrangea we seen no weed growth on the soil which is now exposed. See more

May might be the most spectacular month in the arboretum but don't take my word for it look at pics from previous Mays.

The native range of Ussurian Pear includes eastern Siberia, Manchuria, Korea and Japan. It is rarely if ever sold commercially. Featured is one of two acquired by the City of Syracuse for James Pass Arboretum from the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University. The other of the two is another sad story in the history of the arboretum. (the sad story https://www.facebook.com/notes/tim-regin/pat-hogan-september-18-2009/10151773376612649/) The 2020 bloom of Ussurian Pear has been ...exceptional. A mild winter led to early development throughout the arboretum. This specimen started blooming with the Magnolias but unlike the Magnolias the blossoms weren’t affected by cold weather in April. P ussuriensis blooms toughed it out through the cold which seemed to prolong the blooming season. We’ll show the foliage fruit and fall color as they come. See more

We acquired Ussurian Pear (Pyrus ussuriensis) after the Labor Day Storm. I don't remember a bloom in the past 20 years like this one.

After a mild winter and warm March we seemed to be ahead of season. Cool mid-April temperatures have applied the brakes. April 13-18

It is almost impossible to imagine the arboretum that was envisioned in 1925 by looking at what is now present. Development stopped soon after the stock market crash and the meager plantings were soon abandoned, Before planting gravel foot paths were installed. When development was abandoned grass spread into the foot paths. It is possible to see where the foot paths were if you know where to look.... This past week we had a light, wind driven snow fall which settled in the former foot paths making them more visible. I etched in lines to further illustrate. See more

A few more from 4/8

Arborvitae and other conifers 4/8

This is always a frustrating point in the season. Buds are ready to burst open. There is a point in mid-May when I want things to slow down or I'll miss something. 4/8/20

In 1925 the City of Syracuse accepted the land intended for the James Pass Arboretum as a gift in exchange for the commitment that it be planted to conform to a plan that was drawn in 1926. https://www.facebook.com/notes/tim-regin/the-pass-arboretum-plan-from-1926-drawn-by-harold-smith-as-directed-by-clarence-/10151785993012649 If you count the plants the City committed itself to plant and maintain and compare it to what it is there today you will find that fewer than 5% o...f those plants required are actually present. From 1997 to 2006 a volunteer gave up his back and then front yard as a nursery. He also had space in other yards including the yard of Stephanie Miner, current Mayor of Syracuse. Commissioner of Parks Patrick Driscoll https://www.facebook.com/media/set/ reversed a 20 year effort by the City of Syracuse to create the appearance that the arboretum is an arboretum https://www.facebook.com/notes/tim-regin/mid-1980s-newstories-prompt-a-change-in-perception-of-pass-arboretum/10151802107027649 to indulge those who wanted it as a park to be beautified. https://www.facebook.com/notes/tim-regin/the-syracuse-community-standard-for-an-arboretum-is-defined/10152259267277649 On December 14, 2006 the volunteer had in nursery 67 deciduous trees of 45 species, 65 conifers of 27 species and 94 shrubs of 74 species. https://www.facebook.com/notes/tim-regin/nursery-inventory-on-121406/10151802198722649 As a point of reference a 1994 survey of Pass’ Field counted 47 species of deciduous tree and 22 species of conifer. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=217784555047173&set=pb.129906577168305.-2207520000.1380644948.&type=3&theater These pictures were taken in that nursery. There are pictures taken in many different years. See more

Early April 1,2 and 3

Much flower bud development in conifers, particularly Cuppressaceae

Ussurian Pear (Pyrus ussuriensis) flower buds 4/1/20