SNOHOMISH — You can still take the spring tree tour on your own and maintain social distancing.
it is a tour which highlights Snohomish’s largest, unique and most adored arbors.
“There’s no better way to be out in the fresh air than walking our Snohomish Tree Tour!,” the group Green Snohomish said in a statement. “We know it can be tempting to linger and chat while enjoying one of our majestic historic trees – but please remember to follow correct social distancing guidelines!”
According to Green Snohomish, the trees on the tour are:
● 58 Maple Ave. (east of 51 Maple Ave.)
English Walnut (Juglans speciose) Gorgeous large upright clusters of white flowers appear in early summer, followed by long, bean-like seed pods.
● 105 Cedar Ave. Snohomish Carnegie Library
European Beech (Fagus sylvatica) near entrance. Green leaves; smooth gray bark reminiscent of an elephant's skin.
American Elm (U/mus Americana,) on Pearl Street. This large elm is the lone remnant of a once-larger grouping.
Copper/Purple Beech (Fagus sylvatica) on the alley next to 703 First St. This species has purple leaves and smooth gray bark.
● 116 Union Ave. City Hall (former Snohomish Post Office
Pin Oak (Quercus palustris) These two large giants are home to numerous crows who feed on their "pin"-sized acorns. The one to the left was dramatically trimmed in 2017 in an attempt to save it from splitting down the middle.
● 220 Union Ave.
Deodar Cedar (Cedrus deodara) This large evergreen is native to the Himalayas.
● 906 3rd Street
Cherry (Prunus,) possibly Sweet Cherry (Prunus avium) on the west side of the yard behind a picket fence. Magnificent large, twisted trunk.
● 317 Ave. A. (the back yard of 317 Ave. B.)
Horse Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum)
● 330 Ave. A, at the southeast corner of the lot
Copper/ Purple Beech (Fagus sylvatica) Very large and generally long-lived tree.
● 429 Union Ave. 1898 Goodrich House
Camperdown Elm (U/mus glabra ‘Camperdownii') Contorted branches and weeping canopy. Best viewed in winter, when its leaves don't obscure the branches.
● 602 Ave. A, southeast corner of the lot
Sassafras Tree (Sassafras albidum) Varying leaf shapes, with an excellent orange-to-scarlet fall color. Bark of the roots sometimes is used to make tea.
● 516 Ave. B, on alley
Japanese Walnut (Uuglans ai/antifo/ia.) "Champion Trees of Washington State" by Robert Van Pelt, which documents the largest known examples of species, credits this tree as featuring the "largest crown."
● 506 Ave. B. 1902 Hendrie House
Chinese Chestnut (Castanea mollissima) This outstanding chestnut also is included in "Champion Trees of Washington State." Large edible nuts are enclosed in a prickly burr. Mr. Hendrie, one of the town's first druggists, brought the tree here as a seedling from his native New England.
● 430 Ave. B, near alley; best seen from 5th Street
Giant Sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) This is a relatively young tree. There also is a young Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) on this lot. Another example is found at the corner of Maple and Ford avenues.
● 429 Ave. B.
Shagbark Hickory (Carya ovata) Mature Shagbarks feature a trademark shaggy bark. They can reach 90 feet in height and live up to 200 years. Shagbarks bear leaves up to two-feet long and edible nuts with an excellent flavor. Note the keyhole in the trunk.
● 414 Ave. B. 1892 Henry House
American Elm (Ufmus americana) Several spectacular and large examples of this species.
East side of Avenue B., between 4th & 5th streets
Common Horse Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) Street trees with large masses of white flowers with pink markings.
Red Horse Chestnut (Aesculus camea) Street trees with hundreds of 8-inch, reddish-pink flowers in April and May.
● 402 Ave. B
Copper/Purple Beech (Fagus sylvatica) Very large and generally long-lived tree.
● 329 Ave. C.
Horse Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) This is Snohomish's "Beloved Horse Chestnut," covered with a profusion of white flower spikes in May.
● 404 Ave. C, 1904 Wood House
American Elm (Ulmus Americana)
● 431 Ave. C
California Bay/ Oregon Myrtle (Umbellularia ca/ifomica) An unusually large specimen with powerfully aromatic leaves which, when crushed, may be used as a more potent substitute for bay leaves in cooking.
● 1316 5th St. Snohomish High School
Pin Oak (Quercus palustris.) Referred to as "The Big Tree" by countless students. Very broad growth on this specimen, with a brilliant scarlet fall color.
● 331 Ave. F, 1907 McCormick House
Saucer Magnolia (Magnolia soulangeana) White and purple tulip-like flowers in April.
● 1314 4th St., 1906 N.P. Hansen House, a former Episcopal rectory
London Plane Tree (Platanus x acerifolia) Peeling, cream-colored bark is a noticeable characteristic of plane trees.
● 329 Ave. D. street trees on both sides
Sourwood Tree (Oxydendron arboreum) Unbelievably brilliant, scarlet fall color. Sourwoods are a native understory tree in pine forests of the southeastern United States.
● 313 Ave. D, 1903 Foss House
Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum) to right of the house, behind two picket fences.
● 1314 3rd St.
Franklin Tree (Franklinia alatamalia) This oddly-shaped specimen of the rare Franklin produces large, white, fragrant camellia-like flowers, and in the fall features beautiful scarlet and orange foliage.
Monkey Puzzle Tree (Araucaria aracauna) on the west side of the lot. The Monkey Puzzle Tree, an arboreal oddity, is native to Chile.
Kousa Dogwood (Camus kousa or Camus k. chinensis) on the west lot line. White flowers in spring, followed by bright red fruit that hang from branches like strawberries; striking exfoliating bark; yellow to scarlet fall color.
● 323 Ave. D. next to alley
Gingko (Cingko biloba), male. Gingkos survived to present times only in China, but they once had a wide range. Petrified gingko forests are found in eastern Washington.
● 311 Ave. C.
Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) This maple was planted in the early 1900s by Robert Hazeltine, the town's first mailman. It came from a tree in the Hazeltines' hometown in Whitehall, Michigan, and served as a memory of their roots.
● 221 Ave. C, 1889 Walton House
Bigleaf Maple (Acer macrophyllum) Washington State's large, native maple.
