Author Topic: Giant Tree hunting (Read 11323 times)

mdvaden · « **Reply #40 on:** December 03, 2007, 02:57:05 pm »

Too bad they won't support themselves, but I'd sure like to submit the giant poison oak I found in the redwoods.

4" diameter trunk - over 120' high.

In fact, dropping in on this forum today, and writing about Oregon's champion Sitka Spruce that snapped in 1/2 yesterday, gave me an idea

I'm going to start a Champion small shrubs and native plants registry for the West coast.

And start with that vine !! Why not. It's a whole new realm for people to begin hunting

EDIT...................

I kid you not - just started the submission guidelines. 4 regions for now. west, central, east, and Canada. Alaska and Hawaii are western.

When I'm done, I'll post the URL.

This will open up a whole entire broad range of champions.

I'll do this for a year, and it will work, or not.

EDIT.....................

Okay, got it in place. But I have to stick to my own region to avoid being overwhelmed. Not with replies, but just the concept of a lot of plants I don't know.

So its basically PNW.

$50 gift certificate Contest included - winner chosen after one year.

http://turftotrees.com has the thread: look for "Champion Shrubs" and "Contest".

HOOF-ER · « **Reply #41 on:** December 20, 2007, 11:19:15 am »

Didn't believe it till I seen it. My uncle had a piece of property that had some bottom ground. He asked how big sassafras got. I said around a foot diameter.(They grow as scrub brush in fencerows here.) He proceded to take us out to the woods and show us an enormous tree. There was no doubt it was sassafras. My dad and I together came up about 2 ft short of reaching around it.
My uncle could not bring himself to cut it. Years later he sold the property and the first thing the new owner did was cut that tree and milled it into studs and rafters for a new home. (It did the whole house!) What a waste

How I wish I had pictures of that tree , it may have been a record.

Dave Shepard · « **Reply #42 on:** December 20, 2007, 04:37:39 pm »

Wasn't sassafrass, in some form, shipped back to England by the colonists to make tea and other medicinals? Almost as important as the tobacco, if I remember right.

Dave

HOOF-ER · « **Reply #43 on:** December 20, 2007, 05:13:01 pm »

Sassafras is used as tea. I really like it. The bark off the roots are used. When I was a kid, dad would bring home a piece of root big enough for the tea pot . We would boil the teapot full of water (make sure to wash the dirt out first) then steep the piece of root in it. I believe that USDA has a warning that it may be carcinogenic. Guess we all have to die of something. Sorry I'm off topic.

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #44 on:** December 20, 2007, 05:57:23 pm »

Tree bark of eastern (northern) white cedar was steeped as a tea for scurvy. Thus, Arbor Vitae (tree of life) became a common name. There are a few old cedar left around, but they have been mostly cut. We have a lot of cedar stands in my area though. Some (very few) of the old cedar is 20" or larger and then there are a lot of old cedar that are barely 8" and 180+ years old.

I remember talking to one logger and if I said I saw a cedar 22" he'd say he just cut some 24". Same with about any tree, he was always cutting a bigger one.

HOOF-ER · « **Reply #45 on:** December 20, 2007, 07:47:57 pm »

Arbor vitae- I thought that it was mostly ornamental. Well around here it is only found in yards and such. Never really though about it being a cedar? I will see if a tree service turns one up , sounds fun to saw

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #46 on:** December 20, 2007, 08:05:41 pm »

Some cultivars are ornamental. Around the nurseries here they sell what they call globe cedar and pyramid cedar. Read the latin on the tag. Usually, Thuja orientalis, Oriental cedar, whereas eastern white is Thuja occidentalis

HOOF-ER · « **Reply #47 on:** December 20, 2007, 08:31:51 pm »

Always learning...thanks for the education. This is better than going to school. I have learned tremendous amounts already.

Has anyone else seen or heard of big sassafras. Just curious.

Furby · « **Reply #48 on:** December 27, 2007, 09:27:00 pm »

Been meaning to check on a big Red Oak I know of in the park up the road from my parents place, just haven't gotten it done until today.
Loaded up one of the dogs and one of my kids sisters decided to tag along.
Turns out it's only 52" dbh and it's got a big scar up the side just like Turningfools 56"er.
Found a nice 34" Ash and a nice 34" White Oak as well.
It was getting dark so a lot of my pics didn't turn out, but I think I'll be back there soon.

turningfool · « **Reply #49 on:** December 28, 2007, 11:18:25 am »

hey furb...i think when we go back in the spring to finish up with the 56 incher we should measure and take pics of the red oak in back of it..that one looks much girthier than ours

Furby · « **Reply #50 on:** December 31, 2007, 10:03:25 pm »

Here's the 52" one I was talking about, used my pack for scale.

sleepy · « **Reply #51 on:** January 14, 2008, 11:30:59 am »

My wife and I were visiting Fort Pulaski Nat'l. Mon. in Savannah GA where we saw this Hudge Eastern Red Cedar.

metalspinner · « **Reply #52 on:** January 14, 2008, 11:49:38 am »

Yeh,

That's a big 'un.

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #53 on:** January 14, 2008, 02:57:29 pm »

Wow sleepy, that's gotta be an old bruiser for sure. Would make some nice table slabs.

Dave Shepard · « **Reply #54 on:** March 20, 2008, 10:59:38 pm »

I finally got a chance to get a picture, although not a great one, of the big sycamore. It is 4'8" DBH. I know of one much bigger, but it doesn't have the nice form that this one does. I don't think many people notice the giant they are driving under everyday. It is easily 60' to the first branch.

Dave

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #55 on:** March 21, 2008, 05:23:28 am »

You'd be surprised how many would notice that tree. It really sticks out and is practicaly on the shoulder of the road. I certainly notice yard trees as well as that big old pine over there on the far hill towering above the S maple, Y birch forest. "Yeah Sam, come down Route 230 and make a left onto Prairie Ave by that big old ~~Sycamore~~ tree with the white blotches of bark in the top."

WDH · « **Reply #56 on:** March 22, 2008, 12:02:51 am »

She is a beaut!

Dodgy Loner · « **Reply #57 on:** March 24, 2008, 09:01:49 am »

Quote from: sleepy on January 14, 2008, 11:30:59 am

My wife and I were visiting Fort Pulaski Nat'l. Mon. in Savannah GA where we saw this Hudge Eastern Red Cedar.

(Image hidden from quote, click to view.)

Sleepy- I think I have seen that tree before. Matter of fact, I'm pretty sure I took a picture of it

.

Tom · « **Reply #58 on:** March 24, 2008, 12:21:42 pm »

Is that a peach?

Fla._Deadheader · « **Reply #59 on:** March 24, 2008, 10:00:59 pm »

She sure is

News:

Author Topic: Giant Tree hunting (Read 11323 times)