The Lay of the Landscape:  ML and FL Update

	Staff at both of the major UCAR sites will notice changes in the 
landscape over the next few months.  A number of diseased and/or 
mislocated trees will be removed in order to plant younger, hardier 
varieties more in keeping with the climate and terrain at each site.  
Below is a summary from Facilities Support Services of the changes 
you can expect to see.  If you have any questions, contact Pat Harris (ext. 
8534, pharris@ncar.ucar.edu) or Rich Johnson (ext. 1129).

Cottonwoods in Front of FL
	We are in the process of replacing some of the troubled 
landscaping at FL with xeriscaping (see photo).  As we assessed the 
areas that need to be done first, we became aware that the cottonwood 
trees throughout the parking areas are not the appropriate trees for this 
site.

	Although cottonwoods are native to Colorado, they are a 
riparian variety.  Lacking a tap root, they depend on shallow surface 
roots to spread out near creeks or rivers and gather water.  When these 
trees are located away from creeks, as in the case of the FL parking lots, 
their roots become gnarled in the grass and the adjoining asphalt.  FSS 
has had to perform major repair work on the parking lots and 
driveways near FL due to cottonwood-induced damage.  The trees also 
require extensive watering.

	Several cottonwoods near the radar pads east of Building 1 have 
been replaced by green ash trees that are doing well.  This fall, several 
of the aged and damaged cottonwood trees near the building 
identification sign will be removed and replaced with drought-resistant 
trees compatible with the xeriscaping planned for the front island.  We 
also will replace several trees in other FL parking islands.  Next year we 
will replace almost all of the other cottonwoods in front of FL.  
Eventually, all of the cottonwood trees scattered through the parking 
lots will be replaced with other trees.

Stressed Honey Locusts on 
ML Tree Plaza
	The honey locust trees planted in the 1960s on the Mesa Lab's 
tree plaza are stressed and are slowly dying.  The honey locusts were a 
good choice for the plaza because they do better in containers than 
other varieties.  However, their life span is typically 
15 years.  The majority of these trees have been there for over 25 years, 
so they have lived a good life!  However, since they are old, they are 
stressed and are succumbing to a variety of problems.  It is time to 
replace them.

	The ML Architectural Committee has recommended that FSS remove 
the trees as they die.  We will add new soil as we replace each tree.  We also 
are taking the advice of experts and replacing the current single variety with 
several varieties.  The upshot is that you will be seeing various changes in the 
makeup of the tree plaza over several years.  Depending on the time of year, 
there may be a hiatus between removal of a dead or dying tree and 
replacement with a new one.  --