Thank you for visiting STEAMfest at the Davidson Farmers Market! STEAMfest is made possible by Woodlawn School. Please show your appreciation for the Davidson Lands Conservancy by visiting their site and signing up for the Run For Green race.
NC State has a great website for identifying trees by their leaves (Trees of North Carolina). You can also get apps for your phone or field guides. A great place to see our local trees is Lake Norman State Park.
1. Sweetgum
Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) is a medium-to-large tree native to warm temperate regions of North and Central America. It puts on a brilliant autumn display – the leathery star-shaped foliage turns orange, red, and burgundy, with multi-colored individual leaves. Decorative foliage and an elegant straight trunk earned sweetgum a prominent place in parks and tree lines around the world.
2. White Oak
Quercus alba is a long-lived oak with a broad canopy. The common name, white oak, refers to the color of its processed wood, which has a wide variety of uses – construction, for wine and whiskey barrels, making musical instruments and weapons in Japanese martial arts, etc. White oak is rarely cultivated as an ornamental due to its large size.
3. Pignut Hickory
Pignut hickory is a tree native to the Eastern United States. The fruit of the pignut hickory is usually bitter and is the reason for the tree’s name, as it has been deemed fit for only “pigs and other animals” to eat. Pignut hickory wood is often used in sporting equipment and as tool handles due to its tough yet flexible qualities.
About STEAMfest
The mission of STEAMfest is to provide youth of all ages with free opportunities to Imagine, Discover, and Explore topics in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics through fun and engaging, hands-on activities.
Woodlawn School
4. Eastern Redbud
Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis) is a small understory tree native to North America. In spring or early summer clusters of purple-pink flowers appear on bare branches and sometimes on the trunk. The characteristic seed pod reveals that Eastern redbud belongs to the legume family, which makes it a cousin to peas, and locust trees.
5. Willow Oak
Willow oak (Quercus phellos) is a medium-sized deciduous tree native to North America. It is easily distinguished from other species of oaks by the shape of its leaves – Quercus phellos has lanceolate, oval leaves which resemble those of willow, hence the common name.
6. Eastern Red Ceder
Eastern red cedar is a coniferous evergreen tree that is native to North America. The fruit of this tree, juniper berries, is an important food source for birds in the winter. The wood of the eastern red cedar is used in fencing as it is resistant to rot, and it is also used to line closets and chests since it also resists moths.
7. Loblolly Pine
Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) is the second-most common tree in the United States after the red maple. The loblolly pine has the largest sequenced genome with 22 billion base pairs. Its genome is 7 times larger than the human genome.
8. Persian silk tree (Mimosa)
Albizia julibrissin, colloquially known as persian silk tree, is a deciduous plant with characteristic pink, fuzzy inflorescences. Persian silk tree is mainly cultivated for decorative purposes. Its flowers have a mild, sweet smell and are often visited by butterflies, bees and hummingbirds.
9. Winged Elm
Winged elm (Ulmus alata) is a tree species native to the southern United States that’s also known as the wahoo. This is a slow growing species of plant that is particularly resistant to herbicides.
10. Post Oak
Post oak (Quercus stellata) is a slow-growing oak that can survive in poor soil and dry conditions. It gets its name because the main use for the wood from the post oak is for fence posts. The wood is resistant to rot, decay and fire. It is not prized for cabinets or lumber due to poor quality.
11. Tulip tree
The tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) is not a poplar at all but is a member of the magnolia family. It gets its name from the tulip-shaped flowers that are green and yellow. It is the tallest Eastern hardwood and was prized by Native Americans as a favorite tree to use to make dugout canoes.
12. Southern magnolia
A showpiece of the southern United States is the southern magnolia. This tree is known by its dark green oval leaves that are leathery in feel and its beautiful waxy flowers. The southern magnolia blooms are thought to symbolize dignity and nobility. White versions of the flower are commonly used in bridal bouquets to denote purity.
13. Silver maple
Silver maple ( Acer saccharinum ) is one of the most common deciduous trees in the United States and southeast Canada. It is a 49 to 82 feet tall, fast-growing, sun-loving tree. Its leaves have deeper angular notches between the five lobes than many other maple species. Silver maple is often found along waterways and wetlands, earning it an alternative name “Water maple.”