American Elm - Ulmus americana

Ulmaceae - Elm Family 
"A Year With the Trees" - Tree Number 91
American Elm Tree
Ulmus americana

Spring

This beautiful American Elm lives at the Asheville Botanical Gardens.  http://www.ashevillebotanicalgardens.org/

The American Elm leaves are now on the trees.  These leaves have toothed edges; they are rough on the upper side and smooth on the lower side.  These leaves have a pointed tip, and are arranged on the twigs in an alternate arrangement.

The American Elm can grow to over one hundred feet and live several hundred years as long as it is not affected by Dutch Elm Disease.

Summer

The American Elm Tree

There is an American Elm tree that lives at the Asheville Botanical Gardens. It is very large and provides welcome shade in a beautiful meadow called Sycamore Meadow. Standing under the American Elm on the day I took this photograph, I could hear nearby Reed Creek as it flowed over the rocks. I could also hear the daytime singing insects, the sound of summer.

Ulmus americana, American Elm

Ulmus americana,  American Elm

Ulmus americana,  American Elm

Ulmus americana, American Elm

This American Elm lives at the John C. Campbell school.

On the branches in the first photo you can see little bump like balls on the branches.  I was wanting to get closer to identify what that was.  So, I pulled out the macro lens and discovered those little balls are buds.  You can see the buds in the second photo and also an up-close leaf.

I also observed the deeply grooved bark when I put the macro lens very close to the trunk.  You can see this in the third photo.

I always appreciate the silhouette of the American Elm with such graceful branches.

This month is the month that the leaves start looking a bit eaten up and full of holes.  Enjoy the insect sounds of August and the interesting leafs with all the insect holes.

Fall 

The American Elm Tree

This American Elm Tree lives at the Asheville Botanical Gardens.  ashevillebotanicalgardens.org.

Winter

This tree is a survivor for the American Elms have been struck by the Dutch Elm Disease. Yet, today, some amazing Elm Trees still survive.

Often there are diamond shaped ridges in the bark of this tree as it ages.

 The American Elm - Ulmus americana.  Photo by Robert Priddy.

This American Elm lives at the Asheville Botanical Gardens.  http://www.ashevillebotanicalgardens.org/

 The American Elm - Ulmus americana,  Photo by Robert Priddy

I can see spring coming soon in the new buds emerging on this American Elm twig.

The Champion American Elm Trees

The North Carolina champion American Elm tree lives in Bertie County in Powellsville and is 135 feet tall.
http://ncforestservice.gov/Urban/tree_detail.asp?Tree_ID=212

My favorite American Elm Tree

My favorite American Elm lives at the Botanical Gardens of Asheville.

Plant an American Elm Tree

There is a Quest happening to restore the American Elms.  Please read this article and learn all you can about what can be done to restore the mightly American Elms.

https://blog.nature.org/science/2017/08/09/quest-restore-american-elms-nearing-finish-line/

For the love of the trees,
Becky

Ulmus americana from my journal....