Horticulture faculty member attends tree-research summit

A member of Penn College's landscape/horticulture faculty traveled to the Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories in Charlotte, North Carolina, as part of a two-day summit made possible by the Arbor Day Foundation. Carl J. Bower Jr., an assistant professor of horticulture, was among representatives of colleges and universities – from as far away as Alaska – who learned more about trees on their campuses and how to better care for them. During the Feb. 12-13 event, Bartlett employees discussed and demonstrated pruning techniques, tree support systems and tree risk management.  In addition, participants got a look into the lab's research on root development and specialty pruning. “A highlight was learning how schools connected with their students to understand the value of the trees on their campuses,” said Bower, a 1993 alumnus of Penn College and a faculty member since 2001. The foundation sponsors the Tree Campus USA program, which has recognized Penn College in each of the past three years for effective forest management and engagement of employees and students in conservation goals.
Photo provided