Admission House and Child Care Center (Area I)

            Turning around to stroll south down Husky Drive, walkers will notice that both sides are lined with Cimaron Green Ashes (Fraxinus pennsylvatica ‘Cimmzam’) (I-1). This particular cultivar of the green Ash holds its leaves 7-10 days longer in autumn than its parent tree, and fall foliage is a showy brick red to bright orange.  The parking lot on the right contains a Greenthread Cypress ‘Filifera’ (Chamaecyparis pisifera) (I-5).  The Cypress grows in a dense mound with fibrous hanging branches.  It exhibits reasonable heat tolerance.

            Our tour continues near the Admission House, a 18^th –century structure that was formally the residence of John Phinney, a descendent of the founding father of Gorham, and his wife, Rose Phinney.  The former Phinney property was acquired by USM in 1997 to house the Undergraduate Admission Department. Approaching the Admission House, a tree form of a Cucumbertree (Magnolia acuminata) (I-2) can be found proximal to Husky Drive. In contrast with other types of Magnolia trees encountered in the tour, the Cucumbertrees’ flowers are borne higher in the tree and are not particularly noticeable or showy; however, its habit holds particular character and grace with maturity. A clump form of the Cucumbertree can be viewed next to the front lawn of Admission. Approaching the rear entrance of Admission House (located on its north side), walkers will notice the beautifully landscaped perennial beds (I-3), complete with Russian sage, spirea, many types of daisies, and annuals placed each year by the Department of Facilities Management landscape crews. Placed within the beds are two Swiss stone Pines (Pinus cembra) (I-4), trees known for their extremely upright habit in maturity.