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| A mockernut hickory (Carya tomentosa) shows signs of suffering from the summer heat wave. |
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| It grows on the grassy slope near Cline Hall, in full sun, near prominent sidewalk intersections. This is the most open area of the arboretum, with plenty of room for more plantings. The current residents of the slope do not compete for sun light, as there is no short supply. However, at this time of year, the trees and shrubs (and non-native grass) would prefer more water. |
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| The mockernut, with its orangish-brown leaves, is pictured center. Directly behind it, there are two hawthorns that are showing signs of distress as well. By contrast, the largest trees in the picture have green crowns: pictured from left to right we see an aged white oak (Quercus alba), a mature overcup oak (Quercus lyrata), and a very tall loblolly pine (Pinus taeda). |
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| The leaves of the mockernut aren't completely brown at this time. We see some green and some yellow as well. |
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| Brown, crispy leaves of the mockernut hickory, pictured August 26, 2023 |
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| And can you see the large fruits hidden among the leaves? |
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| The mockernut has prematurely dropped a bucketful of fruit. In this photo only a small collection of the total fruits, which litter the ground, is displayed. In 2020, ripening fruits were still attached to this individual in the middle of November; you can see the blog post here. |
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| This twig looks healthy enough. Since the irrigation system is currently operating, we will do our best to keep this individual from drying out much more. Although, fingers crossed, hopefully the temperatures will stay below 100℉. |
