This American Elm, in the Wildflower Meadow, is one of the finest in the Park. It's hoary, but still vigorous, and virtually intact. The Park's Elms are meticulously tended, to protect against the ravages of Dutch elm disease. The beetle-borne fungus has, since the 1930s, decimated the species. Though not as pervasive as the Chestnut Blight, the disease has largely reduced the tree to understory status in our forests. The once common street plantings have all but disappeared. The Park has managed to maintain what is probably the largest group of mature specimens extant.






The flowers in the foreground belong to the tree in the middleground; elms are known for a crown spread that can exceed their height. The little green pedicles are an early sign of Spring. Below is a close up of fertilized flowers.










Developing quickly, the tiny seeds are already well formed on this tree, just north of the Reservoir. The green will turn to ruddy brown, and the seeds will spread with the wind, before many other trees have even begun to leaf out.












Looking up, seed clusters silhouetted among the famously curvaceous branches.

Meanwhile, a few paces off into the woods