The Library of Trees
The path between the barks of BAM is an educational walk among its 22 circular forests, designed to get in touch with nature.
I prati fioriti di BAM by BAM - Ufficio MarketingBAM - Biblioteca degli Alberi Milano
A peculiarity of the Library of Trees is that it is divided into circular forests, meadows and gardens, each with its own seasonality, flowering and numerous curiosities. A rare biodiversity to be found in a city park!
Starting from Fondazione Riccardo Catella, there is the circular forest of Populus nigra 'Italica', whose young white-gray bark matures to become very dark (hence the name 'nigra') and vertically furrowed.
The barks of Carpinus betulus and Fraxinus excelsior both turn from gray to brown, according to the age of the plant.
Acer griseum by BAM - Ufficio MarketingBAM - Biblioteca degli Alberi Milano
Acer griseum
Continuing the route, past the lake, you will meet the Acer griseum. Their brown-coppery bark, which recalls the color of cinnamon, has the particularity of peeling into thin gills that allow you to see the underlying layers of the trunk.
Cedars of the Atlas
The Cedars of the Atlas, not to be confused with the Cedars of Lebanon, are divided between the mown lawns and the flowery meadows of BAM. They have a dark gray bark that crack over time to form small scales
Cedrus atlantica 'Glauca' by BAM - Ufficio MarketingBAM - Biblioteca degli Alberi Milano
The 'Glauca' variety is widespread and used for ornamental purposes in parks and gardens due to its foliage that is almost blue.
Malus 'Evereste' by BAM - Ufficio MarketingBAM - Biblioteca degli Alberi Milano
Ornamental Apple Trees
It is one of the most beautiful circular forests at the time of flowering.
Malus 'Evereste' by BAM - Ufficio MarketingBAM - Biblioteca degli Alberi Milano
The bark of ornamental apple trees, smooth when the tree is young, tends to crack over the years.
Acer rubrum 'October glory'
The Acer rubrum 'October glory' takes on a special bright red color in autumn.
Its bark is pale gray and smooth in younger specimens, becoming darker and more cracked over time.
Liquidambar styraciflua by BAM - Ufficio MarketingBAM - Biblioteca degli Alberi Milano
Liquidambar styraciflua
The fitness area of BAM is surrounded by Liquidambar styraciflua, trees with a very rough, cracked and brown-colored bark.
Liquidambar styraciflua by BAM - Ufficio MarketingBAM - Biblioteca degli Alberi Milano
Liquidambar styraciflua by BAM - Ufficio MarketingBAM - Biblioteca degli Alberi Milano
The stems, while maintaining common characteristics, are very different from each other.
The autumn foliage turns from yellow to purple, passing through orange hues, and offers a wonderful spectacle.
One of the busiest forests in BAM is the Salyx babylonica one.
Here the willows surround the kids area of the park - an equipped play area dedicated to children.
Betula utilis 'Doorenbos' by BAM - Ufficio MarketingBAM - Biblioteca degli Alberi Milano
Continuing your walk you will cross the circular forest of Betula utilis 'Doorenboos' which immediately catches the eye because of its typical white bark, a color given by the betulin present in the outermost tissues of the trunk.
Located between the relax area and the labyrinth of the park, the Betula utilis 'Doorenboos' often frames the theatrical activities of the rich cultural program of BAM.
Towards Luigi Veronelli promenade there is the Populus alba, whose bark is smooth and light gray in the younger specimens and has small rhomboid lenticels that transform over the years into longitudinal cracks that are clearly visible on the trunk.
You are all set!
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