Tree hugger

Trees benefit from good soil, adequate moisture and a friend like George Ware.

It seems no coincidence that Ware will celebrate his 84th birthday on April 27, just days after we observe Earth Day on Tuesday and Arbor Day on Friday.

The dendrologist emeritus at Morton Arboretum in Lisle made trees and protecting the environment his vocation and avocation long before it was popular.

"Dr. Ware is a phenomenon among those who care for trees and the environment," said Gerald Donnelly, arboretum president and CEO.

"He has been a trusted source of expert knowledge and inspiration to countless other scientists, arborists and tree-loving citizens alike, who have come to share his dedication to the planting and conservation of trees."

Trees are essential, as well as beautiful. They improve air and water quality, reduce energy costs, combat soil erosion, act as windbreakers, lessen the effects of heavy rainfall and provide wildlife habitats.

Ware's interest began in the second grade in Norman, Okla., when a classmate asked for help collecting leaves for a science project.

"It didn't take long to learn all the names of the leaves, because in Oklahoma there weren't a lot of trees," Ware said. "Little did I know. I became fascinated with leaves and trees."

Growing up with nine siblings, Ware's responsibility was to care for the 100 chicks that came from a hatchery each year. By age 10, his chores included caring for the family's cow.

During the Depression, families had to be self-sufficient, and that included growing a vegetable garden. Together, the siblings gleaned fields of onions and harvested black-eyed peas to take home.

Ware earned his first two degrees in botany at the University of Oklahoma and then a PhD in forest ecology from the University of Wisconsin, where he studied trees along the Mississippi River flood plain and learned what it took to grow in adverse conditions.

When he came to the Morton Arboretum in 1968, a large elm tree near the Thornhill Building fascinated him.

"I asked my colleagues if they knew what the tree was, because I had a vague idea, and one or two said 'they call it a mystery elm,' " he said.

The handsome vase-shaped tree was grown from seed received from an arboretum in Boston in 1924.

Ware's visit East cleared up the confusion. The hybrid tree joined a Japanese elm and a Wilson elm species. Besides its characteristic deep green, glossy leaves, the tree had good resistance to Dutch elm disease thanks to its Asian lineage.

As research director in 1978, Ware organized the arboretum's Urban Vegetation Laboratory to develop, improve and manage vegetation in adverse urban areas. He made five trips to China and three to the former Soviet Union to find new trees for American cities.

"About 20 years ago, I became lucky when a Chinese forest scientist who knew of my work contacted me and said her government dropped its restriction on travel within the country. "She offered to collect seeds of the 20 elms of China if I would pay her expenses," Ware said.

"We only had about 10 to 12 species in the U.S., so this was a gold mine for me. I was not familiar with some of the elms and it was a pioneer effort to have this marvelous possibility."

Much of past horticulture techniques are based on how a tree looks, Ware said. His ecological approach looks at the total tree, from its finest roots to the tips of its branches in all seasons.

He's credited with developing two popular elm cultivars at the arboretum that are resistant to Dutch elm disease -- Triumph and Accolade.

"The elm is an impressive tree that needs just a little pruning because their arches are very impressive," Ware said. "The loss of the Arcade to the disease was an aesthetic loss."

The North American elm, which was thought to be ideal for urban landscaping, lined many city streets in the East and Midwest. Unfortunately, countless numbers were lost to Dutch elm disease, including many in the Western suburbs.

"Scientists say that if you plant all the trees of one kind, you are just asking for a disease to come and wipe them all out," Ware said.

As a result, today's parkway landscapes include a variety of trees.

"When I and my wife, June, walk or drive around, I will recognize my elms and my wife says she is sure we aren't going to pass one without my pointing it out to her," Ware said. "The Triumph is more upright and develops faster than an Accolade."

Ware continues his work cultivating his trees. The scientist is working on developing a silver maple with an upright central trunk to better endure storms. He encourages people to mulch to give a tree a forest floor that imitates nature.

On one trip to China, he visited an ancient walled-park and saw the only place the Ulmus Gaussenii, or Hairy twig elm, grows. The little twigs have reddish hairs and the tree is DED resistant. The arboretum is testing the tree with scientific observation as an air purifier that might benefit people with asthma.

Ware is still learning from trees. Today, the arboretum has the largest collection of elms in North America thanks to his efforts.

In August, Ware celebrates his 40th anniversary associated with the arboretum.

The Morton Arboretum encourages everyone to plant and protect trees.

With a host of events, the arboretum, 4100 Route 53, Lisle, will offer free admission Friday to celebrate Arbor Day.

Activities begin with a tree-planting ceremony at 11 a.m. The David Rogers' Big Bug outdoor art exhibit also opens that day.

Families can work in "The Plant" from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday through Sunday that will include a variety of crafts. Each child will receive a tree seedling to plant at home.

The annual Arbor Day Plant Sale will be in the visitor center parking lot. It is open to members from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The general public is welcome to purchase plants from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

The arboretum tram will take visitors on a tour of the outdoor museum's vast tree collections from 40 countries around the world. Tours are daily at 11 a.m., 12:30, 2 and 3:30 p.m.

Visitors can take guided walks into the arboretum collections and natural areas to appreciate trees up close. The Children's Garden is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

For details, visit www.mortonarb.org or call (630) 968-0074.