Our Favorite Trees
Arborists do play favorites sometimes! Tree give us more than shade and oxygen. They offer nostalgia, inspiration, and a connection with the natural world even in an urban setting.
In this article we’ll hear from the three owners of Tree House Arbor Science about their favorite Madison area trees. First, Joe dishes on his favorite, a Swamp White Oak on the University of Wisconsin campus. Next, Tom talks about a beautiful large Cottonwood near Monroe Street. And finally, Ryan expresses his affection for a magnificent Walnut on the East Side near Pflaum Road.
Joe House
“My favorite tree in Madison is a Swamp White Oak that grows on the corner of Babcock Drive and Linden Drive on the University of Wisconsin campus. At least 150 years old, this giant is shaped like an upside down acorn.
Sadly it has had many large limbs die in the recent past due to construction damage. I used to climb this tree in between forestry classes. Swamp White Oaks have the coolest acorns with a large peduncle, which is the attachment of the stem of the acorn.”
Tom Anderson-Brown
“My favorite tree in Madison is the large Cottonwood standing on the west side of Edgewood High School. Some days when the light is right it looks like it has the stature of the enormous “Hometree” in the Avatar movie. While that may sound corny, large trees have the power to induce awe and this one certainly has had me awestruck.
I’m not sure of the history of this tree but I like to think it predates the high school building, erected in the 1920s. The property, indeed the entire watershed of Lake Wingra, was home to dozens of Ho-Chunk villages as late as 1909. Perhaps this beautiful Cottonwood inspired people then as it does now.”
Ryan Altaweel
“It took me a while to figure out, but my favorite tree in Madison is the massive Black Walnut we worked on last summer on the East side near Pflaum Road.
I love it because it is huge and biologically improbable, definitely a progenitor tree to all the other Walnut trees nearby, and creates a microclimate for four to six properties that surround it.”
Contact Us About Your Favorite Trees
You probably have your own favorites in your yard. We provide full tree service care for all types of trees, including tree trimming, tree health evaluation and maintenance, and cabling systems like the one we used on Ryan’s favorite Black Walnut. Fill out the form below and let’s talk about keeping your favorite trees healthy and beautiful for years to come.
