Are you a nature lover in Guelph looking for a new trail and serene escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life? It’s frustrating to spend time searching for a perfect spot, only to end up in crowded or underwhelming locations. At Woodlawn Memorial Park, we offer a beautiful, tranquil setting filled with diverse and majestic trees, making it the ideal place for a peaceful walk and a connection with nature.
Let’s explore the beautiful trees that make our park a place of peace and reflection.
What Trees Can I See at Woodlawn Memorial Park?
Since 1854, Woodlawn Memorial Park has been dedicated to enhancing the urban landscape through tree planting. Over the past 170 years, we have focused on diversifying our plantings, creating a living collection of unique tree species. As you stroll through our grounds, take a moment to see if you can spot some of our more unique specimens. Here are some of the unique species you’ll find:
Magnolia x Soulangeana
Magnolia’s soft pink petals and light notes of ginger and licorice mark the arrival of spring.
Juglans Cinerea (Butternut)
Butternut trees feature high-visibility chartreuse buds and ashy grey bark, contributing to the park’s biodiversity.
Cercis Canadensis (Redbud)
Redbuds display scarlet buds that mature into fuchsia flowers and heart-shaped leaves. These then turn orange in the fall.
Juglans Nigra (Black Walnut)
The Black Walnut, with its deeply fissured bark and airy leaves, predates the cemetery and drops large green seed pods in fall.
Corylus Colurna (Turkish Hazelnut)
Turkish Hazelnut is notable for its distinct leaf shape and vibrant, exfoliating bark.
Cladrastis Kentukea (Yellowwood)
Yellowwoods are shade trees with long, dangling white flowers. They produce a yellow dye from their heartwood.
Betula Lenta (Cherry Birch)
Cherry Birch is known for its cherry red bark with a wintergreen scent which helps support the species’ recovery.
Ginkgo Biloba
Ginkgos, one of the oldest trees in the park, create a golden carpet in fall with their rapidly falling leaves.
Larix Laricina (Tamarack)
Tamaracks are unique deciduous conifers that turn gold in autumn before shedding their needles for winter.
Pinus Flexilis ‘Vanderwolf’s Pyramid’ (Limber Pine)
Vanderwolf’s Pine features steely blue needles and upward-sweeping branches that shed snow easily.
Picea Abies (Norway Spruce)
Norway Spruces have long, drooping branches adapted to bear heavy snow and create a vaulted canopy.
Pinus Nigra (Austrian Pine)
Austrian Pines are recognized by their long needles and fire-resistant, chunky, flaking bark.
Planting Trees for the Future
We invite you to take a walk through our park and admire the variety of trees. Download your trail map for your visit.
On your walk you may notice that we have started to lose some trees in the park over the years as they mature. As a Charitable Organization, Woodlawn Memorial Park relies on the support and generosity of donors to maintain the grounds, operations, and beauty of the park. That’s why we created the Arbor Fund, specifically to purchase new trees to preserve and grow the park for the Guelph community. All donations to the Arbor Fund will go towards planting new trees. We also offer a tree dedication program that families can participate in to honour someone. This is a wonderful way to keep our park beautiful and remember your loved ones, regardless of their final resting place. Contact our office for more information on how you can help.
