Page 4 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, JUly 31, 2026 Saugus Gardens in the Summer Here’s what’s blooming in town this week to make your walks more enjoyable By Laura Eisener V isitors to Saugus Iron Works in what is left of the summer will see some changes to the landscape but also some new activities that focus on nature in the park. The upper lawn has an empty space this week due to the removal of the European beech tree (Fagus sylvatica). Often I have been told that this was the most-loved tree in the town, due to its location, size and dark wine-red foliage color. The tree predates the national park and was probably planted by a homeowner on Central Street in the late 19th century. People have tried to estimate the tree’s age by its size, or by memories of longtime residents. When the rings were counted, there were about 150, making it likely that the tree was planted in the late 1870s. The trunk was approximately six feet across at its base. The tree’s removal took several hours due to its size. Over the course of the day last Thursday, several Saugonians from the neighborhood, members of Saugus Garden Club, and others stopped by to pay their respects. Sometimes called copper beech or purple beech, varieties of European beech with colorful foliage are among the most admired trees that can be grown in the Northeast. Most European beech trees have green leaves, but there are variations in leaf shape (cut-leaf varieties have almost feathery foliage, unlike the usual oval, slightly scalloped leaves); tree form (such as upright or weeping varieties); and color, including tricolor beech, which may have green, reddish, white and pink areas in the leaves. Beech were arguably the most desired trees in the last half of the 19th century, and old estates almost always had at least one beech planted near the front entrance. A few of these trees persist today in private gardens around town. In recent decades, several diseases and environmental stresses have affected beech trees. The droughts of recent years add to diseases that affect our native American beech (Fagus grandifolia), the European beech planted in gardens, and the somewhat less often planted oriental beech (Fagus orientalis). Since the early 1900s, beech bark disease has become a problem in this area. This is a combination of an insect infestation of beech scale (Xylococcus betulae) and two species of Neonectria fungus species (Neonectria faginata and Neonectria ditissima). Much more recently, beech leaf disease has affected beech trees in forests and cultivated landscapes. Nematodes, which are Aluminum Aluminum Everett Supplies 10 Everett Ave., Everett 617-389-3839 Celebrating 66 Years in Business! •Vinyl Siding Decks • • •Carpentry Work •Decks • Replacement Windows Carpentry Work • • • Fully Insured Fully Insured • Replacement Windows www.everettaluminum.com Free Estimates Fully Licensed • Roong •Free Estimates •Fully Licensed •Roong Now’s the time to schedule those home improvement projects you’ve been dreaming about all winter! A worker from I ron Tree removed the beech branch by branch on July 23. (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener) According to the Arnold Arboretum, there are a few bacteria and fungi connected with these nematodes that also play a part in the stress on beeches. Leaves often have discoloration between the veins, looking somewhat striped, and foliage can also look wrinkled or misshapen. It is easier to observe in green foliaged beech varieties than in those with darker leaves. Other nearby institutions The large beech at the Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site presided over its last concert on July 22. (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener) tiny, often microscopic roundworms, are believed to be the cause of this. While most nematodes in our environment are benign and sometimes beneficial, the nematodes responsible for beech leaf disease (Litylenchus crenatae) cause harm by devouring and damaging leaf tissue as it emerges in spring. with valuable beech trees have also been struggling with these diseases, including Harvard’s Arnold Arboretum in Jamaica Plain, which has a sizeable beech tree collection. Current treatments include foliar GARDENS | SEE PAGE 5 Summer is Here!
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