Trees Please 1: Ode to Elms

Photo of Literary Row elm trees, Central Park, NYC
Literary Walk elm trees, Central Park, NYC

What hath the elm tree to do with literature? The American elm was mostly destroyed by Dutch elm disease, first recorded in the US in 1930. Lone, isolated American elms still exist, but only one alley of American elms remains, found in Central Park, New York City. These beautiful, curvy survivors line Literary Walk, alternating with sculptures of well-known authors.

Photo of American elms in Central Park.
American elms in Central Park.

American elms often have a few distinctly curved limbs, such as the last elm of an alley in Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. These tall trees were popular for lining streets as they had long trunks with few low branches, but instead spreading overhead like a canopy :

Photo of last surviving American elm in Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.
Last surviving American elm in Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.

And if you feel inspired, render the tree in pen and ink:

Pen and ink drawing of elm tree at Longwood Gardens.
Pen and ink drawing of elm tree at Longwood Gardens.

My personal trifecta of elm trees was completed by the discovery of a charming vintage watercolor salvaged from the vast wasteland of a Goodwill mega-bin. I’m amazed the painting survived, and further amazed to recognize the curved branches of the trees as likely elms:

Vintage watercolor featuring an elm tree-flanked country road.
Vintage watercolor featuring an elm tree-flanked country road.

From the lone surviving elm at Longwood Gardens, to the last surviving grove in Central Park, to the surviving documentation of a country lane flanked by elms, likely long, long gone. But not forgotten.

Trees, please! Keep reading, keep connecting, keep appreciating!

Published by Morra Rose

I love the links between life and literature, and couldn't get by day-to-day without a little humor. Here's my place to share thoughts and discoveries in bite-sized pieces, illustrated by my sister Morra Morron. Enjoy!

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