All Gummed Up: Sweetgum

At the northeast corner of Orchard St. and Spring St., right on the corner is one of the biggest Sweetgum trees (liquidambar) I’ve ever seen. What a beauty! And 50 feet to the east is another matching one. Native to the southern USA, this species is known for fabulous autumn color. Its seed balls can be a bit of a nuisance, but it's a fine tree. As its name implies, its resin was used in the past for waterproofing and other uses. Its’ a tree that should be planted more often.