Campus Green (Area D)

               Across Campus Avenue from Robie-Andrews Hall is Upton-Hastings Hall, another residence hall with an interesting history.  Upton Hall was constructed in 1960 in order to create more residence space for woman.  Upton was connected with the newly constructed Hastings Hall in 1968 in an attempt to create even more dormitory space for the College's largely female population.  Over time, Upton Hastings has held The Bookcellar (the original campus bookstore), a dining hall, and various student lounges.  With the new wave of construction experience during the 1960s, the focal point of the traditional campus center shifted from Cortell Hall to the Campus Green.  Today, Upton-Hastings is home to USM's Police Department, Hastings Lounge, as well as dormitory space for men and woman.

                Walking toward Upton-Hastings, walkers are presented with Korean Mountain Ash (Sorbus alnifolia) (D-1).  The leaves of this tree look much like the foliage of Beech or Hornbeam, rather than most Mountain Ash trees.  Continuing on the path between Upton-Hastings and the tennis court, one is presented with a Fern Leaf Beech (Fagus sylvatica ‘Asplenifolia’) (D-2), deriving the name based on its impressive fern-like foliage.  Next in line in the stroll across the campus green is a Crimson King Maple (Acer platanoides ‘Crimson King’).  This is another tree that offers a high tolerance to air pollution.  There is also a Rivers Purple Beech (Fagus sylvatica ‘Riversii’) (D-3), which possesses purplish black leaves that hold their purple color throughout the summer, until they turn a golden –yellow in the fall.

                On the way to Woodward Hall, which was erected in 1956 as the first men’s dormitory on campus, walkers will pass a native American Hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana) (D-4).  Native to the Eastern U.S, the Hophornbeam is desirable due to its very strong wood used for tool handles.  Continuing on, directly in front of the east side of Woodward Hall is the Rohanii Beech (Fagus sylvatica ‘Rohanii’) (D-5), a vigorously growing tree.  Mature specimens of the Rohanii Beech possess beautifully spreading crown with low, strong branches.  Turning and walking to northeast towards the Brooks Student Center, walkers can view a Golden Raindrops Japanese Flowering Crab (Malus floribunda ‘Schmidtcutleaf’) (D-6).  The defining characteristic of this species is its golden-yellow fruit, in addition to its unique and deeply cut foliage.

                The tour now leaves the Campus Green and resumes on the fountain terrace of the Brooks Student Center.  A flourishing Higan Weeping Cherry (Prunus subhirtella) (D-7) resides here, receiving little sun.  However, the microclimate that exists in this area protects the tree from wind and chilly temperatures, facilitating its vigor in an otherwise marginal climate.  Around March and April beautiful pink flowers overwhelm the slender, whip-like twigs of this tree.

A few pictures of trees in Area D

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American Hophorbeam American Hophorbeam View Full-Size	Korean Moutain Ash Korean Moutain Ash View Full-Size
Rohanni Beech Tree Rohanni Beech Tree View Full-Size