Springfield folklore says the city’s population of sweet gum trees (and their annoying, spiky “gum ball” seed pods) dates from the great elm tree die-off of the late 1940s. Sweet gums indeed were one ...

Amid the glut of leaves now hitting the region's back yards, trees are dropping other things, too. Perhaps you've already heard acorns pinging your car, or tripped over a black walnut. Also underfoot ...