Arboretum

The Tree Walk

To many people one tree looks much like another. Yet, when one gets to know them better, each kind of tree takes on an individuality and becomes a friend, easily recognized.

Explore more than 25 types of trees in a short stroll. Our Tree Walk begins and ends at our studio, making a big loop around the 150-year old Rhone House. Six of the trees on the walk were here when the house was built. The signs for these trees are marked with a C. The other trees are of all ages between then and now.

Enjoy the tree walk during spring, summer & fall and experience the seasonal changes in flower and foliage.

Stop in at the Studio and pick up an annotated guide to the Rhoneymeade Tree Walk.

Trees in order of Appearance on the Trail

(N) Native (E) European (A)Asian (C) 100 or more years old.

Black Gum - Nyssa sylvatica (N) Nyssa is a beautiful native tree. Its pyramidal shape, horizontal branching, blue-black fruit, and yellow to orange to scarlet fall color make it a fine specimen.

Tulip Poplar - Liriodendron tulipifera (N) One of the tallest growing eastern American deciduous trees, it has a beautiful, greenish-yellow and orange, tulip-like flower. There’s a row along the parking lot.

Norway Maple - Acer platanoides (E) This tree is listed as the biggest specimen, or Champion, of Norway Maple in Centre County. A Champion is the biggest specimen based on height, spread, and trunk diameter.

European Larch - Larix decidua (E) This whole tree glows gold in the fall as chlorophyll retreats from the needles. The needles then drop. Therefore, it is a deciduous conifer.

Redbud - Cercis canadensis (N) This pinkish-purple flowering native is effectively used here beneath larger trees and alongside other understory species.

Horsechestnut - Aesculus hippocastanum (E) Red and yellow splotched white flowers are borne together in long, showy panicles. Apparently, on our tree flowers appear on alternating sections of the canopy from year to year. Bark on the trunk exfoliates in plates.

Black Walnut - Juglans nigra (N) Wood is prized for cabinetry, and the nuts for food by squirrels and humans who have the patience. A limb from this tree was used in the Rhoneymeade ‘Welcome Arch’ sculpture.

Arborvitae - Thuja occidentalis (N) This is one of five very old specimens. Used in tea, the leaves and bark yield vitamin C, thus earning the title of ‘tree of life’.

Paperbark Maple - Acer griseum (A) The peeling, cinnamon-colored bark and spectacular display of red fall leaf color makes this an outstanding specimen tree.

White Fringetree - Chionanthus virginicus (N) This small tree yields clouds of starry white, fragrant flowers in May and interesting blue fruit in August.

Mexican White Pine - Pinus reflexa (N) It has interesting blue-green needles, five to a bundle, like the Eastern White Pine.

Scholar-tree - Sophora japonica (A) Last of the ornamental trees to flower (August). It takes 10-14 years to flower if grown from seed. Planted around Buddhist temples.

Norway Spruce - Picea abies (E) Our giant specimens have served as lightning rods - some have died and other grew new leaders. Woody protrusions from the soil under their canopies indicates shallow roots.

Sassafras - Sassafras albidum (N) The conspicuous, mitten-shaped leaves turn yellow, orange and scarlet in autumn. Root sprouts transform one tree into a thicket. Stems are aromatic and grow along the axis of a branch (as opposed to the tip) giving it a distinctive pattern.

Eastern Hemlock - Thuja canadensis (N) We have two giants here. All of our trees have undergone systematic soil injections and sprays for the wooly adelgid pest that’s wreaking havoc on east coast populations.

Japanese Stewartia - Stewartia pseudocamellia (A) This prizewinner has rich, flaky bark, medium to large white/orange-centered flowers, and fall colors ranging from yellow to red and reddish-purple. Seedpods are an interesting pointed brown shape.

Blue Atlas Cedar - Cedrus atlantica (E) This is an interesting tree from the Atlas Mountains in Algeria and Morocco. Not the cold hardiest of trees, for the silvery-blue may turn purple below 0 degrees F.

Persian Parrotia - Parrotia persica (Iran) Parrotia’s bark exfoliates in a variety of colors and the leaves show brilliant fall colors from yellow to orange and scarlet.

Japanese Zelkova - Zelkova serrata (A) This tree has been used as a replacement for the diseased American Elm because its ascending branches give a similar shape.

Northern Catalpa - Catalpa speciosa (N) The large terminal, white flower panicles on this tree give way to long, bean-like seed capsules.

‘Arnold’s Promise’ Witchhazel - Hamamelis x intermedia (A) This cross between the Japanese and Chinese Witchhazels has delicate, yellow, fragrant flowers in early march.

Sargent Cherry - Prunus sargentii (A) This tree appears voluntarily in the area. The ornamental feature of this tree is its rich, glossy, reddish brown to purple bark.

Eastern White Pine - Pinus strobus (N) This is a quick-growing dependable evergreen. The arc of white pines here was planted in the mid 1980’s and now averages 30 feet high. Needles are in groups of five.

Yellowwood - Cladrastis kentukea (N) If it wasn’t for the contorted trunk growth on this tree, it would have been a highly valued lumber tree. Yellowood, a southern native, gets fragrant, white flowers and has smooth, beech-like bark.

Katsuratree - Cercidiphyllum japonicum (A). The leaves resemble those of a redbud and turn yellow to apricot in fall.

Concolor Fir - Abies concolor (N). Native to the southwestern U. S., it's becoming a popular Christmas tree. The needles are soft and silvery, blue-green and smell like citrus or balsam when crushed.

Basswood or Linden - Tilia americana (N). This tree can reach 100 feet or more. It has fragrant, cream-colored flowers and soft, white, light wood. It has fragrant, cream-colored flowers and soft, white, light wood.

White Oak Trail

After a tour of the Arboretum, hike the White Oak Trail in the Rhoneymeade woods. You will find an undisturbed row of old oaks and other hardwoods to gaze at with Penns Valley scenery in the background. It is a fine counterpoint to the tended Arboretum.

Planting trees and tree care is an ongoing process here at Rhoneymeade. If you would like to learn more and volunteer, click on the button below.