University of Tennessee Forest Resources Research Center

The following article was written by Eileen Neiler and originally published in the Volume 17, Number 4 issue of UT Arboretum Society Journal, The Leaflet.

It had been a long time since I had taken a walk on the White Pine Trail and since the weather had been so delightful (except for the mosquito population) it seemed the right time to renew acquaintance. The trail is really very short but the variety of plant life offered on this half- mile walk is a travelogue.

The trail begins as a grassy path that crosses the small meadow just to the south of the Arboretum Visitor Center. To the right is Scarboro Creek whose passage makes a valiant effort to overcome the noise of traffic on Kerr Hollow Road. Although the early morning fog had lifted, the sun was just beginning to make headway against the heavy dew that beaded grass and plant stems. Near a large slash pine is a curious grouping of yellow buckeye. This enormous multi-trunked growth appears to be all one tree with the brook flowing over the roots that stretch across the stream as if holding hands with its partners on the other bank.

Following along the brook leads one toward the Marsh Area. Wildflowers still in bloom along the stream bank were blue lobelia, cardinal flower, and some small white asters; surely an attraction for butterflies or hummingbirds and indeed, the butterfly house at the edge of the Marsh Area showed evidence of occupancy.

Coming out of the hillside from under the access road is a small spring-fed stream of water which, being so close to the brook, has created a small bog in the area between the two water courses. The borders of the Marsh Area have recently been planted with about a dozen deciduous hollies. This small collection of different cultivars doesn't mind living in such a damp atmosphere. Having participated in the planting of these hollies, I was glad to note there were berries on "my" hollies.

This particular area is also home to some muskrat residents in the Arboretum. Either they were off to another part of the brook or still sleeping on this cool morning. I had hoped to find one out foraging. Visitors are sometimes not sure what size animal to look for and expect to see something about the size of a beaver instead of just an overgrown brown rat.

The pale green bald cypress really stand out against the darker green of other trees and the number of cypress and cypress knees have really increased since my last visit. Many of the knees are quite some distance from their "parent" and caution is needed to avoid tripping over these knobs if visitors desire a close-up inspection of the various trees in the area. Also in this area are water oaks and river birch. The Chinese fir with very long needles, drooping branches, and clusters of breathing tubes is a most striking tree.

In a slightly drier area, but still quite close to the water, is the Central China Collection. Most of these specimens feature large needles and small cones. Of particular interest to me was the dawn redwood which seems to be about the same age as the one at my house. The most obvious difference between these two trees is the distinctive way the roots of the Arboretum's tree have developed to support the weight of this tree growing in a naturally wet area; whereas my tree survives on the top of Black Oak Ridge with its feet in clay. For many years the dawn redwood was thought to be extinct, as only fossils gave evidence of its ancient presence here in North America. Then specimens were discovered in a remote area of China and soon nurserymen were able to propagate and market this tree. Before leaving this area of the Arboretum, be sure to note the other Far Eastern specimens, particularly the Japanese elm.

The White Pine Trail now begins to wander up the hill taking the visitor into a more typical Eastern American forest atmosphere. Here one finds the specimens that give the trail its identity. These huge eastern white pines, with their distinctive whorled branch pattern, thrive in old cleared pastureland. As one stands among a group of tall white pine, it is easy to understand why these trees were so desired as masts by the early ship builders and why they were actually reserved for the Navy!

Understory growth is ideal for blueberry bushes, Christmas fern, and an occasional clump of small white asters. Old age, harsh winters, and strong winds have downed many pines but their "bones" will eventually decompose to enrich the soil for another generation of white pine. Along this trail are American beech and, by looking closely, one can find a white oak with a healed lightening scar.

This trail would be an easy one for families with small children or for the visitor who only has time for a brief walk in the out of doors. One big difference from my previous visit was finding identity tags on trees and the small information stations that made the visit educational as well as recreational.

A Walk on the White Pine Trail