The North End of the UVM Green (Google Maps)

    On the UVM campus, the only Douglas-firs that I have found are the few on the Green. There is one in the middle, just south of the water fountain. This is a young tree in apparent good health; about seven feet tall, it looks like a typical Christmas tree. This tree is not present on the map (the second image), but is located at the numeral one (1). The second is in the southeast corner; this one is older (compared to number one), probably 30-35 feet tall and very sparse looking. It is represented by the two (2). Lastly, there is a pair of Douglas-firs at the north end of the Green. Again, these trees are older and in poorer condition, although looking a little better than number two. They are marked with the number three (3).

The South End of the UVM Green (Google Maps)

    The probable reason for the poor health of these trees is the amount of water they are receiving. The Green has horrible drainage; even at midday with no rain, the grass around the trees is consistently swampy or damp. The Douglas-fir can survive with that much water, but not when the ground around its roots is poorly drained.