Pawpaw Redux

 

The Groves of Academe

   I just wrote about the Pawpaw tree ( in, Edible and Available in Ontario), knowing that the subject of pawpaws is very popular and will attract readers. Overlooked in the sources and references provided were some which were found close by,  along with some actual pawpaw trees! I am pleased that the campus at Western now has some, along with additional sources you should now consult. 

   I happened to visit the campus by bike recently and noted all the construction activity. That led me to search the Western website to see what was going on. That is when I discovered the pawpaw sources and trees of which I was unaware. It appears that the Western landscaping crews are as active as the construction ones. 

   Start with this good article from Western News: "Indigenous Tree Bears Rich History, Culture for Western: Rare Pawpaw Brings Hope For Healthy Ecosystem on Campus," Mari-Len De Guzman, Sept. 30, 2021. Since the article came out at the beginning of the academic year it may have been overlooked. Here are some bits; read the entire piece.

"A new set of pawpaw (Asimina triloba) trees have been planted on UC Hill near the Physics and Astronomy Building recently, in the hopes of increasing the campus’s biodiversity and promoting a healthier natural ecosystem....

The five pawpaws planted this past summer, each measuring about a metre in height, add to the unnumbered pawpaw trees already growing on campus, mostly in the Middlesex College area....

As stewards of the campus landscape, Western’s landscape services plants about 200 Carolinian or native trees on campus each year. The pawpaws were among 203 trees planted this year, including bitternut, black gum and other....

Enriching plant biodiversity across campus is part of Western’s commitment to sustainability outlined in its new strategic plan. Western is also home to thousands of tree species and has been officially designated as an arboretum.

The image above is from the article. Thanks should be offered to Mr. Vanden Huevel and the landscaping crews the next time you visit Western. 

For additional background see: "Planting the Seeds of Sustainability: New and Enhanced Gardens Build on Western's Natural Beauty and Biodiversity," Keri Ferguson, Western News, June 24, 2021. 

The Sherwood Fox Arboretum was established in 1981 and more can be learned about it by clicking on the link provided.  And, even more is offered by the Department of Biology. 

Post Script: 

    Dr. Sherwood Fox was a president of UWO and a classicist as well as a naturalist. I have mentioned him before. You will find him in the post about John Muir since President Fox wrote about Muir's time in Canada. He also wrote about "The Old Grand Bend Cut" and is mentioned in the post about "Parks Along the Great Lakes." He also wrote about the BATS in his Muskoka cottage and the large flocks of PASSENGER PIGEONS which used to exist and President Fox is found in those posts. 

The Bonus:

   The Groves of Academe seems like a suitable subtitle for this post. Doubly so, since it is also the title of one of the most famous 'campus novels.' The son of the author of it taught for years at Western and is now retired.