Platanus occidentalis – American Sycamore
Indigenous to the eastern United States, Sycamore trees can often be seen growing in sandy soils along streams, rivers, and floodplains, but they are also tolerant of a wide range of growing conditions including urban soils and pollutants. It is generally regarded as the most massive tree indigenous to eastern North America with a typical mature height of 75 to 100 feet and a spread of the same distance. Sycamores are fast-growing and long-lived. They have the potential to grow 2 feet or more per year and live to be more than 200 years old. Indigenous people used hollowed tree trunks of Sycamores to build canoes.
Tom Nardone
Founder, The Enemies of Debris
Tom Nardone is the founder of The Enemies of Debris and other unusual volunteer efforts to create cleaner communities. He and his friends like picking up trash and cleaning up our community. They try to treat it as a fun activity and not a chore. In addition to The Enemies of Debris, keep an eye out for The Detroit Mower Gang -- they mow abandoned parks and playgrounds. Or Trash Fishing -- they venture out in crappy boats and collect trash in our waterways. All of these things are fun and help our community. Maybe you should join him! If you just want to join in spirit, pick up a couple of pieces of stray trash along the Riverfront and slam dunk it into a trash can.
Tom’s favorite tree:
“A Ponderosa Pine, they smell sort of like vanilla and sort of like a cinnamon roll.”
This Exhibit Took Place Along the Detroit Riverfront September 1-30