Maryland Chapter

WSSC 1 – Backcross Orchard

This was the first WSSC (Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission) orchard, a backcross breeding orchard.

This orchard was culled or rogued in 2015. Beginning in 2016 the remaining trees have pollinated each other, producing a large crop of BC4F2 nuts for planting in our seed orchards.
Address:
2717 Triadelphia Lake Rd., Sunshine, Montgomery Co.

Directions:
As a starting point, find your way to Sunshine, which is at the intersection of MD 650 (New Hampshire Ave,) and MD 97 (Georgia Ave). From Sunshine, go 1/2 mile north to a right turn on Triadelphia Lake Rd.  Note: See the Google Map below.

Contacts:
Ron Kuipers – MDTACF
Eddie Franceschi: Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission, Watershed Manager
Mark Grzeszkiewicz:  groundskeeper

Plantings:

Here is a list of the remaining 13 BC4 chestnut trees:
Sugarloaf East 833 – (6 trees) – numbers – 32, 43, 117, 121, 220, 270
Peters 32A – (2 trees) – numbers – 6, 297
WREC 48A – (5 trees) – numbers – 147, 150, 200, 204, 208

 

Location:

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Lesesne State Forest is 422 acres, and lies next to Three Ridges Wilderness Area in Nelson County, VA. TACF and VA Department of Forestry partner in managing and breeding chestnuts here for restoration. TACF hosted our partners and national board members on a tour of the orchard in mid-November. ... See MoreSee Less

4 CommentsComment on Facebook

Going here for the first time, seeing all the big American Chestnuts and also watching Bill Deeter 's videos and pictures of his trees convinced me that it is possible to breed resistance into American chestnuts! We got this folks

Allison Boush Clary

Cool. I planted 56 Dunstan chestnuts on Nov. 3 in damp peat moss. I have to transfer to potting soil soon, they're all sprouting. And I mean it looks like every single nut has germinated.

We’re on the Naturally Scott Podcast!
Our President & CEO sat down with Scott to talk about the past, present, and future of the American chestnut — from its historic role in Appalachia to the cutting-edge science driving restoration today.

- Why the roots never died
- The cutting-edge science behind restoration
- Why volunteers and donors are leading this effort

Watch the full episode now and join us in bringing back America’s iconic tree:

www.youtube.com/@NaturallyScott

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/naturallyscott/id1830513032
... See MoreSee Less

We’re on the Naturally Scott Podcast!
Our President & CEO sat down with Scott to talk about the past, present, and future of the American chestnut — from its historic role in Appalachia to the cutting-edge science driving restoration today.

- Why the roots never died
- The cutting-edge science behind restoration
- Why volunteers and donors are leading this effort

Watch the full episode now and join us in bringing back America’s iconic tree:

www.youtube.com/@NaturallyScott

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/naturallyscott/id1830513032
... See MoreSee Less

🐛 Large silk moth caterpillar native to North America, not a threatened species fairly common *but beautiful.
🌳 Tree is a wild American chestnut planted for a PRR fungicide trial in Clemson, SC.

Photo credit: Celeste Giles, Research Associate with the Plant and Environment Sciences Department at Clemson
#americanchestnut #explore #nature #bugs #chestnuts #caterpillar
... See MoreSee Less

🐛 Large silk moth caterpillar native to North America, not a threatened species fairly common *but beautiful.🌳 Tree is a wild American chestnut planted for a PRR fungicide trial in Clemson, SC.Photo credit: Celeste Giles, Research Associate with the Plant and Environment Sciences Department at Clemson #americanchestnut #explore #nature #bugs #chestnuts #caterpillarImage attachmentImage attachment

3 CommentsComment on Facebook

Can you tell us more about the PRR fungicide trial?

So cool. Curious if the funguscide harms the catepillar and insects?

Speaking of threat, our local university has discovered the chestnut weevil is not extinct as was thought. www.actionnews5.com/2025/12/08/uofm-researchers-rediscover-weevil-believed-be-extinct-thanks-phot...

In celebration of GivingTuesday, TACF’s Board of Directors and President & CEO Michael Goergen came together to issue a matching gift challenge. The original goal was $5,000, but because of their collective passion and generosity a total of $18,125 has been raised, making the impact of your gift even greater. If that amount is reached, it will double to $36,250! Visit the link in our bio to donate. ... See MoreSee Less

In celebration of GivingTuesday, TACF’s Board of Directors and President & CEO Michael Goergen came together to issue a matching gift challenge. The original goal was $5,000, but because of their collective passion and generosity a total of $18,125 has been raised, making the impact of your gift even greater. If that amount is reached, it will double to $36,250! Visit the link in our bio to donate.
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