Nature Series The Monmouth County Park System has two envi- he parks of Monmouth County are the perfect place to observe and enjoy trees ronmental centers dedicated to nature education. throughout the year. Forested areas have cooler temperatures in the summer, and offer Each has a trained staff of naturalists to answer vivid colors during autumn. In winter, the woods offer peaceful solitude and in spring- questions, and a variety of displays, exhibits, and Trees time,T life bursts forth from the trees. hands-on activities where visitors of all ages can of Monmouth County learn about area wildlife and natural history. Monmouth County Has Two Major Types of Forest The Huber Woods Environmental Center, on A Mixed Oak Forest is found in areas where The northern fringe of the Pine Barrens Brown’s Dock Road in the Locust Section of the soil is rich and can hold moisture. Lo- reaches into southern Monmouth County; Middletown, features newly renovated exhibits cated in the northern sections of the county Turkey Swamp Park, Shark River Park, and the about birds, plants, wildlife and the Lenape Indians. with hilly terrain, look for Mixed Oak Forests Manasquan Reservoir are excellent locations Miles of surrounding trails offer many opportunities on the trails of Hartshorne Woods Park, Hol- to observe a Pine Oak Forest. Here, the defining to enjoy and view nature. mdel Park, Huber Woods Park, Tatum Park, feature is sandy soil that does not retain mois- and Clayton Park. Predominant trees are the ture or nutrients. Pitch Pine is the predominant Red, Chestnut and Black Oak mixed with tree with it’s thick, plate-shaped bark, mixed beech, ash, hickory and maple species. with different types of oak. Mixed Oak Forest Pine Oak Forest The Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center, on Georgia Tavern Road in Howell specializes in wetland species. The center has many water-related displays and exhibits to learn about local plants and wildlife. The 5-mile perimeter trail is a great place to explore and enjoy nature. Inside this guide you will find leaf, needle, fruit and bark identification characteristics for common species found in both Mixed Oak and Pine Oak Forests. Use it to begin learning about your favorite trees. Consider also the two soil Monmouth County types discussed, and the different shrubs and flowers found nearby. For a full appreciation of each tree, try to observe Board of Chosen Freeholders it at different seasons throughout the year. Board of Recreation Commissioners G16041-02/16 www.monmouthcountyparks.com Pitch Pine Sweet Gum White Oak American Beech (Pinus rigida) (Liquidambar styraciflua) (Quercus alba) (Fagus grandifolia) Needles of the Pitch Pine come Look for the star shaped leaves of White Oak can be found in all of The American Beech, with its in 3’s and the thick tile-shaped Sweet Gum at Turkey Swamp Park the Monmouth County Parks. distinctive smooth grey bark, bark is easy to recognize. and Weltz Park; don’t miss the spiny, Look for the rounded leaf lobes. can be found along the trails of brown fruits. Holmdel Park. Black Oak Red Maple Chestnut Oaks Black Birch (Quercus velutina) (Acer rubrum) (Quercus prinus) (Betula lenta) Look for Black Oaks Visit Perrineville Lake Park in the Elliptical leaves are a tell-tale sign Black Birch twigs smell of winter- among the Pitch Pines at autumn to see vibrant Red Maple the oak is a Chestnut Oak; look for green, bark of young trees may Turkey Swamp Park. leaves. Note the coarsely toothed, this tree in Hartshorne Woods Park. have distinctive horizontal lines. 3 (to 5) lobed leaf. Male fruit (catkin) show in photo, female fruit shown in drawing. Sassafras American Chestnut Red Oak American Holly (Sassafras albidum) (Castanea dentata) (Quercus rubra) (Ilex opaca) The twigs and leaves of the Once the most common tree of the Red Oaks grow throughout the Visit the Holly Trail at Tatum Park Sassafras are aromatic when east, today’s chestnut only grows to parks and are easily spotted by in the winter when the shiny crushed; look for trees with sapling size due to blight; sprouts the pointy bristles on the leaf green leaves and red berries are mitten-shaped leaves (could develop from tree stumps, but die tips and lobes. This is the State most obvious. also be oval or tri-lobed) at the before bearing fruit. Look in the forest Tree of New Jersey. Manasquan Reservoir. understory along the trails. Black Gum Norway Maple Tulip Poplar White Ash (Nyssa sylvatica) ( Acer platanoides) (Liriodendrun tulipifera) (Fraxinus americana) Look for the Black Gum or Black This invasive, non-native species Named for their showy flowers in Identified by its compound Tupelo in early fall when its competes with other trees for re- May and June, you can’t miss these leaflets and the diamond shaped smooth-edged oval leaves turn sources, and can sprout inside (and extremely tall trees (over 100 feet) furrows in its bark; the White Ash bright red. The bark is blocky destroy) adjacent shrubs. Look for at Thompson, Tatum and Holmdel can be seen in Thompson Park. and grey; the berries are blue. this large, fast-growing tree in many Park. parks and neighborhoods. Front cover photo..