The following article was written by Eileen Neiler and originally published in the Volume 20, Number 2 issue of UT Arboretum Society Journal, The Leaflet.

Although this trail at 1.4 miles is the second longest in the Arboretum, it is an “easy walker” and could be done rather quickly if there was not so much to look at. Follow the oak leaf trail signs as you leave the parking lot and proceed up the road past the Superintendent's residence. The rustic security gate and the unpaved road give one the feeling of walking down a country road. Keep in mind that the trail and the road are one and the same for a considerable distance and one may choose to start from two different places from the road.

Up ahead on the right, a majestic box elder tree stands sentry duty. Just beginning in mid-April to leaf out, it promises welcome shade for summer hikers passing by. Nearby, a couple of holly trees appeared to be bi-color but were simply discarding old, yellowed leaves to make room for new growth. Small patches of purple Ajuga flowers lurk in the grass along the road. The trail to the Heath Cove was spectacularly anchored to the hillside by mounds of lavender and dark red Azaleas but our goal was the dwarf conifer collection just ahead on the right.

The dwarf conifer collection is a great spot to linger. Staged on a series of various sized grey mounds connected by winding paths, the collection consists of many unusual or nonnative species. It is here that one finds the Harry Lauder Walking Stick with its fantastically twisted limbs. The shrub was named after Sir Harry, a famous Scots balladeer and composer who, during his performances, always wore a kilt and carried a very crooked walking stick. Other interesting specimens are: Weeping white pine, Hicks yew, two dwarfs, occupying opposite mounds, seem in competition for “king of the hill.” The dwarf cypress is noteworthy but the dwarf white pine has won the prize by turning itself into a living rug almost covering the mound. The Maxwell dwarf spruce is noticeable for its very long needles. The collection also contains a Bornmueller fir, a Cilician fir and the very unusual Japanese nutmeg—truly an outstanding tree. First, one notes the many adjectives needed to describe this tree: dark green, flat needles that are very stiff and sharp; then the lighter green, tiny balls scattered toward the ends of the tree branches. Up close, these tiny balls have all the appropriate marks for a typical cone and they really do smell like freshly ground nutmeg! Exploring the conifer garden gives one the feeling of being in the midst of a venerable bonsai garden.

Across the road from the conifers the roadside is graced with a row of Norway spruce with their dark green draperies suspended from the undersides of the branches. A weeping mulberry keeps them company.

An attractive wooden bridge spans the ditch and provides sure footing to begin the climb up the hill. The well-built bridge was a recent Eagle project by Ben Jones of Troop 129 and should last a long time. In this wooded area, the trail side was a changing pattern of tender emerging ferns, tiny white blossoms of star chickweed (Stellaria pubera), purple dwarf crested iris (Iris crestata), yellow violets (I forgot to look for distinguishing features and there are several yellow violets), purple violets (Viola papilionacea), white wood anemone (Anemone quinquefolia), yellow bellwort (Uvularia grandiflora), May apple (Podophyllum pellatum), wild ginger (Asarum canadense), Spring beauty (Claytonia virginica), Toadshade (Trillium sessile) and blooming moss. But the highlight of the day was finding several colonies of Squawroot (Conopholis americana). I have spent countless hours in the woods and have found other parasitic species, but this was the first time to find this plant.

Now the trail reaches a little clearing with a bench and information kiosk informing the hiker about the American chestnut that was once so prevalent in North America. At this point, the Lost Chestnut Trail makes a loop off the Oak Hickory Trail and will take the visitor past the slowly decaying remains of a once upon a time giant. As a spring shower threatened, we cut our Journey short and chose not to include this as part of our tour. Watch for the black oak tree with the giant oak gall and be sure to read the information sign. The name of this trail was chosen for good reason as hickory and oak of various kinds predominate. Black cherry already showing signs of tent worm activity. A more open area of the forest canopy is evidence of the devastation of the 1960's pine beetle activity; now hardwoods are moving in. The bark of the American beech, a relatively smooth montage of greys, stands out from the usual furrowed bark of other trees and makes this tree easy to identify.

Although we did not see any animals, information signs point out that the Arboretum is home to various small animals and birds and there are many birdhouses throughout the arboretum. As we stopped to read a sign about flying squirrels, we had been so quiet on our approach that we could hear the very soft chirps of a chipmunk; the sort of calls these tiny fellows make when they are looking for company. Our whispers were too much for him or her and the escapee rattled through the dried leaves freeing us reluctantly to conclude our walk.

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