9/11 memorial Trees – Is anyone thinking?

The article is about how they nixed the sweetgums in favor of swamp white oaks, right? Seems like a much better choice..

And while diseases do spread in monocultures, cities are one place that can be protected – There are even a few incredible elms remaining in New York , because they were in the ‘urban island’ and did not succumb to Dutch Elm..Although after the last storms, they may all be gone.

Monoculture is still not good, I agree.

Mr. Halpern, You raise some good points!

It looks like the Sweetgums were eliminated from the design and replaced with the White Swamp Oak. While 400 Sweetgums might not have been the best choice, I’m not sure 400 Quercus bicolor is either. “…this species will develop chlorosis in high pH (very alkaline) soils, almost always the result of being transplanted into chalky and gravelly urban soils, usually near asphalt and/or concrete…” Besides the pests and diseases you mentioned, it doesn’t sound like an ideal environment for the species.

Of all the Oaks, Quercus bicolor is one of the least impressive but I guess that’s the point… “the original architect of the memorial, Michael Arad, began to fear in recent months that a swath of color in a discernible pattern might draw attention from the two great sunken pools marking where the twin towers stood.

“Especially in looking at the site from up above,” Mr. Arad said in an interview last week, “I felt the design — reduced to its most essential elements — was the twin voids. I really didn’t want to have anything that would distract from the clarity of that. I think a consensus emerged that the ring of sweet gums, at some level, obscured the clarity of that gesture.””

I have a solution that might satisfy both Mr. Walker’s desire to use Sweetgums and Mr. Arad’s desire to not have the species detract from his design…

Now the fall color of the Sweetgums emphasizes the pools, changing colors around the time of 911.

Here’s another option that uses the bright pink Sweetgums to ring the pools and another yellow species (ginko, maple, black walnut, etc) to line the alles leading to the sunken pools. Now, not only are the pools emphasized, the highlighted corridors lead people to them as well.

It seems that there are a host of other trees that would be better suited to the site than the White Swamp Oak… How about Silver Lindens, Lacebark Elms or White Ash?

P.S. I’m looking for work…

Agree Rob. Monocultures are never a good idea, design not withstanding. Little difference if the choice is swamp white oak or sweet gum. And the reasons for switching species seems suspect. I can picture a brilliant red sea of foliage surrounding the two tower voids. I hardly believe that would have been a distraction. Yet, their should have been five different species or more, in my opinion.

I like swamp white oaks, they are NOT common in Manhattan, while sweet gums are like callery pears..boring..and overused, street trees…… and the S. W. Oak is probably native to that original lower manhattan landscape….Just geussing..

And Mr. Thomas, I shouldn’t be cocky? pot and kettle problem?

but for me,that is a good thesis topic – when are we decorators and how to avoid that..I will Never forget laurie Olin telling us that our job ‘ is just to provide the ‘greenies around the building”…!!! Laurie Olin, when talking about Canary wharf – me, the angry political chick, had to try to call foul, and Ann Spirn shut me up, requireing obeisance to Laurie..

It is an issue for me..I don’t like to be a decorator, and see a very clear line, overall..Capstones, details are extremely important..But when you are decorating, i.e., shrubbing up an existing shape, it depressing to me..

I am about to be reprimanded for trying a no-water landscape, instead of the usual decorating on the highway…To me, if you taking out the social responsibility to the environment component, the design might as well be done by an interior decorator.. colors, texture – who cares, ultimately? Our job is one of responsibility to the earth..to the humans on the earth..Not to blend pretty colors…

You’re a big fan of the bagel garden then? (wink, wink)