A river birch on UVM's campus. (Tory McBrien, 2014)

By Tory McBrien

Currently on the University of Vermont’s beautiful campus are 78 river birches. Easily identified by their unique peeling bark and multi-trunks, they contribute to the aesthetic of the landscaping and add to the collection of native trees. Most of the river birches on campus are fairly young. This is most likely due to their recent popularity in horticulture as a tree that is easy to grow and useful in prevent erosion. Groups of these beautiful trees can be spotted in clusters near the Davis Center, outside University Heights, near LaFayette, and scattered around the rest of campus. Be sure to catch them in the fall when their leaves turn a beautiful pale yellow.