Develop a deeper connection to trees by understanding their outsized role in our natural ecosystems. Trees provide habitat and food. They support nutrient-cycling in forest systems through leaf-drop and decomposition, mediate temperatures, mitigate stormwater, and soil erosion, and are culturally significant to the mid-Atlantic region. Examine the ecological features of trees while learning about their anatomy and care. Find out how trees contribute, in both life and death, to forest ecology. Learn why large, mature trees need to be conserved and how climate change could impact forests in the future. Outdoor learning conducted to complement the lectures. Dress for the weather. These classes are rain or shine.
This program takes place in-person at Mt. Cuba Center Three Wednesdays: 10/30 through 11/13.
About the Instructor:
Nicole DeLizzio is the Arborist Assistant at the Mt. Cuba Center. She holds a BS in Agriculture and Natural Resources with a minor in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation from the University of Delaware. Nicole is an ISA certified arborist. In addition to co-teaching the Ecological Arboriculture course with the rest of the arboriculture team, she can be found sharing her combined passion for trees and art in pyrography, or the art of woodburning. One of Nicole’s favorite ecological gardening concepts is to allow trees to decay in place, when it is safe to do so, to be utilized by wildlife.
Scott Kelley is the Head Arborist at Mt Cuba Center. He is an International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborist. Scott has been working with trees since 1980, and he joined Mt Cuba Center in 1986.
William Trescott is the Arboriculture Manager at Mt. Cuba Center. He joined the staff fulltime in 1988 and began his arboricultural career as a tree climber in 1989. William is an International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborist. In addition to daily tree care duties, he is currently involved in Mt. Cuba Center’s tree canopy replacement project and development of best practices for ecological arboriculture.