The Traverse City Approved Trees And Shrubs List

I heard from a Commissioner that Traverse City had an "approved trees list" on the City web site.

I think I finally found it in a 2009 appendix to zoning map changes.

Source: http://www.ci.traverse-city.mi.us/zoningord/zoning.pdf

The following text comes from the source PDF except I have changed to formatting to make it easier to read which includes taking out the scientific names:

The following is a partial list of plant materials which is preferred to exotic plants when the location is visible from public rights-of-way or adjacent to areas of natural vegetation. This list is not necessarily a guideline for interior courtyards and single family residential development.

WET TO MEDIUM MOISTURE SITES:
LARGE TREES:
Balsam Fir
Red Maple
Sugar Maple
BlackAsh
Larch
Black Spruce
White Pine
Black Cherry
Black Willow
Basswood

SMALL TREES:
Serviceberry
Sweet Birch
River Birch
Alternate-Leaved Dogwood
White Cedar


LARGE SHRUBS:
Red Chokeberry
Buttonbush
Gray Dogwood
Redosier Dogwood
Common Witchhazel
Michigan Holly
American Elderberry
Highbush Blueberry
Arrowwood
Nannyberry
American Cranberry Bush

SMALL SHRUBS:
Common Juniper
Bush Cinquefoil
Canada Yew

DRY, SANDY SITES:
LARGE TREES:
Balsam Fir
Sugar Maple
American Beech
White Ash
Red Pine
White Oak
Red Oak

SMALL TREES:
Serviceberry
Cockspur Hawthorn
Downey Hawthorn
Dotted Hawthorn
Green Hawthorn
Eastern Red Cedar
Prairie Crab
Red Mulberry
Ironwood
Pin Cherry
Choke Cherry
Carolina Buckthorn
Mountain Ash
Nannyberry

LARGE SHRUBS:
American Filbert
Common Witchhazel
Michigan Holly
SmoothSumac

SMALL SHRUBS:
New Jersey Tea.
Bush Honeysuckle
Blackberry

Appreciating Juglandaceae

There are black walnut trees all over downtown Traverse City neighborhoods. This tree does not appear to be native according to the US Forest Service: Juglans nigra L.


-Native range of black walnut

but it sure has naturalized itself wonderfully.

I've often thought about collecting these walnuts but was never sure about how they compared to the English variety you get in the store.

Supposedly they are wonderful as Hank from Hunter Angler Gardener Cook discusses at TheAtlantic: Black Gold: The Pleasures of a Hard-to-Crack Nut

Looks like I have a foraging project for next Fall!

Michigan's Future Is Growing

In other words, agriculture can supplement what is left of the manufacturing workforce because Michigan is second to California in crop diversity. Therefore, commercial agriculture can play a huge role in Michigan's economy.

One example is maple syrup. As climate change destroys maple sugaring in the northeast, Michigan stands to gain.

See NWMI.SecondwaveMedia: How sweet it is: Michigan one day could be world's leading producer of maple syrup [thanks for the link K]

And it is worth mentioning that as sweeteners go, maple syrup is a good source of manganese and zinc.

Tent Caterpillars

Everyone in Traverse City seems to be talking about the tent caterpillar-alypse.

"And I, for one, welcome our new insect overlords".

See the R-E: Crawlers creep in; Expert advises patience

Wikipedia: Tent caterpillar

What I find interesting is that the dominant deciduous forest trees are the last to leaf out and it makes me wonder if this is not only an adaptation to late-season freeze damage but to also let the fast growing trees sacrifice themselves to the caterpillars? So when the white oaks, walnuts, and ash tree finally complete their leaf out the insects have already gorged themselves on maples.

The Benefits Of Narrow Tree Lined Streets

Via TriplePundit: Tree-Lined Streets Reduce Car Accidents

Michigan Christmas Tree Association

The MCTA has a new web site: MCTA.org

It includes a guide on 'Choose and Cut' farms like those found in northern Michigan.