Tom's Nome, Alaska Tree Page

Nome is located on naturally tree-less coastal tundra. Still, dozens of people have planted trees, and nurtured them to adulthood. This page is an attempt to document most of Nome's trees that have clearly been deliberately cultivated. To someone not from Nome, this may stretch their concept of what constitutes a tree.

Except for the Siberian larch, the only successful shrubs in Nome are native to the region. Even trees transplanted from Anchorage nurseries fare poorly, due to the cold soil, the necessity for a root system to spread horizontally rather than vertically (because of the permafrost), and the long hours of winter darkness and summer light that provide the trees incorrect seasonal cues. Quaking aspen, for example, refuse to bud until mid-July and their leaves are caught by the frosts of August and September and blacken; a tree may survive but refuse to grow. Birch trees will produce leaves early, but even when established for more than ten years, grow by only an inch or so per season.

Black spruce are found along the Nome-Council highway about fifty miles northeast of Nome, and cottonwood trees thrive about fifty miles to the north along the Kougarok Road. These account for all but a few of Nome's cultivated trees.

Click on a thumbnail for a full size image. These images average about 150k in size.

Watch this page for more trees! This is just a starter.

This eight-foot black spruce was about six inches tall when transplanted in 1984. 110 W. King Place

116 W. King Place

Other trees at 116 W. King Place

Possibly Nome's largest stand of trees, in the distance, with black spruce in front. 202 W. Third Avenue

View from the west, 202 W. Third Avenue

204 W. Third Avenue

208 W. Third Avenue

303 Division Street

305 W. 2nd Avenue

409 W. 2nd Avenue This tree and a companion were planted by Charlie Fagerstrom in 1960. Its mate was destroyed by a porcupine, which ate the bark. According to Charlie's son Robbie, the porcupine wound up on somebody's dinner table.

301 W. C Street

301 W. C Street

Corner, West 2nd and D Streets

Crowley Marine office, 703 Lomen Avenue

212 W. First Avenue

303 Lane's Way

211 W. 2nd Avenue

211 W. 2nd Avenue

211 W. 2nd Avenue

This little guy was recently planted. 304 Steadman Street

3rd Avenue and Steadman Street

3rd Avenue and Steadman Street

Behind 103 W. King Place

106 E. King Place

410 E. 5th Avenue

602 E. 5th Avenue

604 E. 5th Avenue

604 E. 5th Avenue

605 E. Steadman Street, with a yard encircled by dense foliage.

Alternate view, 605 E. Steadman

108 W. 5th Avenue, arguably Nome's most nicely shrubbed home.

A beatiful stand at 113 W. 5th Avenue, planted in the mid 1970's.

Some of Nome's trees barely cling to life. 503 Divisin Street

503 Division Street

504 Bering Street, the Nome Professional Building. Trees planted about 1978.

Norton Sound Regional Hospital

404 W. 5th Avenue

407 W. 5th Avenue

409 West 5th Avenue

507 West 5th Avenue

504 West C Street

504 West C Street

506 West Tobuk Alley

KICY Studios, 408 W. D Street

The Nome Cemetary has about fifty trees, planted in memory of loved ones.