The Eastern Hemlock, the state tree of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
is a tree of cool, humid highlands of which Pennsylvania has plenty.However, there a number of hemlocks in
Parkfairfax,. Most of these were probably planted by residents from the
north.The hemlock is a conifer with
flat sprays of ½ “ green needles with two white bands on the underside.Hemlocks grow to 60-70 feet and are more
rounded on top than firs and pines with the topmost shoot drooping markedly.It produces small 5/8-1” brown cones that
dangle like ornaments in the fall.The
bark is a rich brown, becoming deeply furrowed in older threes. The oldest
recorded hemlock is at least 554 years old.
In earlier times, hemlocks provided lumber for pulp, and particularly
for railroad ties since the wood holds spikes exceptionally well.The bark, rich in tannin, was used in the
tanning of leather.Native Americans and
woodsmen made a tea from the needles.
Eastern hemlocks can be seen in Parkfairfaxat several locations. There is a tall tree on
Valley Drive
in front of Bldg 708 (right side of Valley going down the hill). Two hemlocks
can be seen at the foot of Preston
Road in front of Building 944.Going up the hill on Preston
hemlocks are located at the left front corners of Buildings 807, 823 and
964.Our trees are thinner than those
found in cooler climates as hemlocks do not tolerant heat and urban stress
well.
You can see a photo of the Eastern Hemlock with this article
on the Parkfairfax web site www.parkfairfax.org
under Trees of Parkfairfax. The other tree articles published in earlier
editions of the Forum can be found there also.
For more information about the Eastern Hemlock see
Dirr, Michael A Dirr’s Hardy Trees and Shrubs Timber
Press, 1997, p407
