The Tree Signs and Brochure Project was started to promote the education of nature, specifically the different species of trees found in the Tiger Trail, for students and families in and around Fairview. This project consists of 17 signs which label 16 different species of trees found throughout the Tiger Trail running along Avonia Road. Along with the signs, a brochure was made to provide additional information for students and families while they are walking through the trail. A digital copy of the brochure can be found here. With the help of Boy Scout Troop 146 led by Andrew Millward, this Eagle Project was completed on November 22, 2015. Below are a list of the trees found throughout the Tiger Trail and some information about them. Sources of the information can be found here.

Digital Brochure

Sources

The Sugar Maple, or Acer Saccharum, is a deciduous tree that is commonly found in the North Eastern United States and South East Canada. This species can reach a maximum height of 60-75 feet in about 40 years, and it can live for around 80-100 years. The Sugar Maple is the most common variety of maple trees to be tapped for maple syrup. Along with maple syrup, Sugar Maples can also be used for many other things including flooring, veneer, paper, instruments, cutting boards and baseball bats.

The Horse Chestnut, or Aesculus Hippocastanum, is a deciduous tree found in the North Eastern United States and along the east coast. This tree can also be found in a few locations in the west including Oregon and Western Canada. During its lifespan of around 75 years, it can grow to reach its maximum height of around 100-120 feet in around 50-75 years. The wood of the Horse Chestnut can be used for things like crates, other packing cases, furniture, plywood, and trim.

The Staghorn Sumac, or Rhus Typhina, is a deciduous shrub found across the eastern half of the United States, Utah, and Eastern Canada. They are a native plant to the United States, but many people think that they are invasive. The Staghorn Sumac grows to be around 15-25 feet tall over the period of around 5 years. They can live to be anywhere between 30-50 years old. Although they are a very small tree, they still can be used to make a variety of things. Some of these things include small specialty items, carvings, turned objects, and inlay.

The Black Willow, or Salix Nigra, is a deciduous tree found most commonly in the eastern half of the United States and parts of California. This species can grow to be 65-100 feet tall in around 20 years. Its lifespan can range from 40-100 years. Its seeds are very cottony which allows them to be carried by the wind to spread out more. Along with the ability to spread seeds long distances, it also produces large quantities of seeds. Uses for the wood of a Black Willow include shipping boxes, furniture, inlay, novelties, and sports equipment.

The Red Osier Dogwood, or Cornus Sericea, is a deciduous shrub most commonly found in the northern most United States, much of Canada, and central Alaska. However, in Pennsylvania, it grows in the northern most areas such as areas near Lake Erie. It can grow to be 7-9 feet tall in around 3-4 years. The lifespan of this shrub lasts up to around 30 years. Since it is a shrub, it can only be used for smaller things such as dream catchers, arrows, stakes, tools, and baskets.

The Black Locust, or Robinia Pseudoacacia, is a deciduous tree found throughout the United States and southern parts of Canada. This tree is native to the United States, but it has been spread across the world. During the life of a black locust, the tree can grow to be 80 feet tall over its lifespan of up too 100 years. Humans can use the wood of the black locust to make lumber, poles, fence posts, paper, boxes, crates, pegs, stakes, and firewood among many other things.

The Cranberry Bush, or Viburnum Trilobum, is a Deciduous Shrub found across the northeastern United States and Canada and the western United States and Canada. This shrub can grow to 12 feet tall in 3-6 years over its 25-50 year lifespan. They produce bright red, round berries which are edible by humans, but the berries have a bitter taste when raw. The bark of the cranberry bush can be used to make a powerful antispasmodic and the plant itself is mainly valued for its fruits.

The Multiflora Rose, or Rosa Multiflora, is a deciduous shrub found in the Eastern half of the United States and along the west coast. However, the Multiflora Rose is an invasive species to the United States which originates from Japan, Korea, and Eastern China. It was brought to the United States for erosion control, and was later used for crash barriers. This shrub can grow to be 10-15 feet tall in 2-5 years, and it can live for at least 2 years. This plant is mainly ornamental, but it does have some medicinal uses.

The Privet, or Ligustrum, is a genus of deciduous shrubs and trees found across the north eastern United States and southern parts of Canada. This plant can grow to be 10-15 feet high in 5-10 depending on the species over its lifespan of a little over 30 years. Some more shrub-like species of the privet genus can be used as shrubbery in a yard since they have a very fast growth rate. Several uses of the shrubs and trees in the privet genus include use as ornamental plants in gardens and use as food by some other organisms. The fruit of some species of the privet can be slightly toxic to humans.

The Red Pine, or Pinus Resinosa, is a coniferous tree that is native to the north eastern United States and south eastern Canada. This tree can grow to be 80-100 feet tall during its 60-70 year lifespan. Since it is a coniferous tree, it does not drop any leaves during the fall to prepare for the winter unlike all the previous trees. Coniferous trees like the red pine have adapted to have a waxy coating on its needles to keep in water during the winter along with many other benefits. Uses of the red pine include utility poles, posts, railroad ties, paper, and construction lumber.

The Honeysuckle genus, or Lonicera, is a genus of deciduous trees with many different species that are found across the United States. They can grow to be 6-15 feet tall and 6-15 feet wide during their lifespan of around 20 years. The flowers that can grow on some species of honeysuckle used to be used to ward off witches and evil spirits in Great Britain during the Victorian era. Modern uses of the Honeysuckle include using its flowers in a bouquet, firewood, and using it as a medicinal herb.

The Douglas Fir, or Pseudotsuga Menziesii, is a coniferous tree that is most commonly found in the western half of the United States and Canada, but these trees can also be found in states like Pennsylvania, New York, and Minnesota. These trees grow very tall, reaching a height of 200-250 feet during their massive lifespan of 500-1000 years. Although this tree can grow very tall and lives a long life, it grows at a very slow rate taking nearly 100 years to reach the first 30 feet. Douglas Fir trees produce more wood than any other tree in North America. Uses for the wood include lumber, timber pilings, plywood, railroad ties, poles, fencing, flooring, and furniture among many other uses. This tree species is also the species used as Christmas Trees during the holidays.

The Black Cherry, or Prunus Serotina, is a deciduous tree found most commonly across the eastern half of the United States. The oldest known tree of this species was 258 years old, and the black cherry can grow to be 90 feet tall and have a 50 foot wide spread of leaves. The fruit found on the black cherry can be used to make jams and cherry pies while the wood of the tree can be used to make cabinets, fine furniture, flooring, veneer, and small specialty items.