OLMA's Ecological Campus Walk

A Campus Walk: The Mercy Plants
Approximate Time: 25-40 Minutes
Prepared by: Dr. Joseph Kinneary, Science Department

Situated on 96 rolling acres, Our Lady of Mercy Academy officially opened on September 10, 1928. Like most of northwestern Long Island, the grounds surrounding the Academy have naturally rich soil, which provides for thick vegetation and large trees.

The Walk

Exit the school at the Mercy Circle (south entrance). The tree in the circle is a silver linden. Proceed along the wide asphalt drive past two maple trees on the right. There are 13 maple species native to North America. Fruits or seeds have paired wings (Samaras) which swirl through the air like a helicopter (an adaptation for dispersal). Sugar (or rock) maple is the NYS tree. Sap contains 2.5% sugar and is boiled to make sugar and syrup. Forty gallons of sap will yield one gallon syrup or eight lbs. of sugar. On average a tree will yield ½ this amount. Maples are salt sensitive and not found near oceans; twigs are eaten by rabbits/deer; fruits and seeds are eaten by birds and squirrels.

Take the first right on the asphalt drive toward the southwest corner of the school. There is a young dogwood on the right and two blue spruces on the left. Dogwoods are “under story” trees capable of growing under the forest canopy and have excellent humus building capacity; they like moist soils on the alkaline side. The flowers are pointed with four bracts. Powdered bark from dogwoods was once used as a quinine substitute. Dogwoods are found throughout the campus particularly on the west side (in a line along dirt path). The Colorado blue spruce is native to the Rocky Mountains and has found favor in Europe and eastern US as an ornamental evergreen. The immaculate, crisp appearance of the spruces in landscapes gave rise to term “spruced up.”

Proceed on drive along the west side of school. There are two large linden or basswood trees on the right at each corner of building; they like lose sandy soil; are good humus builders; the seeds have wings that act as parachute when ripe; the fragrant flowers (May) produce a distinct honey which attracts bees; rabbits and deer eat the twigs; squirrels and quail eat the nuts; the wood is used for cabinets and paneling; the inner bark of roots are used for twisted cord.

On the left is an open field with a gazebo (in memory of Sr. Mary Fabian, an environmentalist and former chairperson of the science department) and a variety of plantings including the dogwoods, spruce, pin oak and sweet gum (with star shaped leaves) which takes its name from sap that emits from wounds – clumps of which were once chewed as gum; seed pods are prickly like sycamore; a pioneer tree in ecological succession; resistant to insects and disease; reddish wood is used for furniture paneling and toys; seeds are eaten by birds and squirrels. Pin oak is named for the many short side twigs or pin-like spurs used to fasten timbers together before nails were made. Japanese maples have small, deeply five to nine lobed, purplish-red ornamental leaves. These versatile species can be a single-stemmed small tree or multiple-stemmed shrub.

Continuing along path on west side of school one soon approaches a stately European beech (copper variety) on left. Beechnuts serve as food for people, livestock and wildlife. Unlike most trees, beeches retain smooth bark in age. The trunks are favorites for carving and preserving initials and dates indefinitely. The words beech and book come from the same root, because ancient Saxons and Germans wrote on pieces of beech board. In the immediate vicinity are two hollies. They are dioecious evergreens (separate sex trees) with males and females required in close proximity in order to pollinate and produce berries – Japanese or Chinese have black berries, the American holly has red berries.

As the drive curves to right, one will note rhododendrons on north side (original front) of school; over 800 species; an evergreen that likes acidic soil; in forests provides thickets for wild birds; they produce large flowers and fruit with sticky resin that attracts insects. Surrounding the rhododendrons and on either side of path are several kinds of hosta or funkia a low maintenance (once considered weed) perennial plant that likes moisture and can be propagated by pulling apart bulbs; they have flowers produced on spikes; in the lily family; most varieties originated in orient; snails and slugs feed on them; they are sensitive to prolonged sun and dryness.

Down hill on left is dense stand of bamboo (above shrine). This plant is becoming more common on Long Island and is frequently used as a natural barrier. Bamboos are among the most rapidly growing of all plants, some growing as much as 18 inches in a single day.

The paved drive ends at a fence bordering Syosset-Woodbury Road. To left is a road (presently unpaved) which passes pond and swimming pool on left and ends at grassy field and tennis courts. Trees include weeping willow (near pond) which are native to China, but widely cultivated throughout the world as an ornamental, particularly in parks, gardens and cemeteries, especially near water. The second tree on right when facing toward pond is a sycamore. Bark peels off in large thin flakes, exposing patches of brown, green and grey. Sycamores are used extensively as a street tree because of its narrow shape, insect resistance and longevity (600 years) – however sodium (yellow) street lamps can exhaust the tree. The trees wood is used for specialty items like butcher blocks, tobacco boxes and veneer. The grasses are of mixed variety and constitute the largest family of flowering plants in botany. The grass stem has a sheath covering it and unlike other flowering plants, meristem (growth) tissue is at base so that removal of top part does not stop growth; symbiotic bacteria on the roots do little nitrogen fixation, so grasses are dependent on nitrates in soil (fertilizer).

One can return to school via same route or by bearing right through open grass field (passing in back of house) and picking up wide path through mixed woods (just before reaching fence). Upon clearing the woods, one passes under magnificent stand of larch in row before reaching parking field. These trees are light green, turning yellow in autumn before shedding needles. Sometimes referred to with incompatible terms of “deciduous evergreen.”