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Notable Trees

Trees have a special meaning for people; trees are providers of food, inspiration and materials for art and architecture, as well as providers of renewable fuel. Trees are not only symbolic of our relationship with nature, but symbolic of our reliance on nature for existence. Perhaps for this reason man holds trees in a special place in his heart and trees of record size become a symbol … a touchstone of the present that links to our past and future. Connecticut College maintains the database of Notable Trees for the state of Connecticut. And this resource can provide hours of fun in researching and discovering trees of great variety and unimaginable dimension within minutes or hours of home. A book by Glenn Dreyer, Connecticut's Notable Trees, was published by the Connecticut Botanical Society and the Covered Bridge Press in 1989, 1990 and 1998. The later editions were the same as the original, except that they were perfect bound and included updated Champion Tree Lists. Most libraries in the state have copies of the book, and it's also available from the Connecticut College Arboretum.


Photographer Unknown [click on photo to see larger version]

In this photo taken June 10th, 2004, Rodman Longley (left) and Paul Dieter Wagner visit the magnificent Japanese Chestnut (Castanea crenata) at the First Congregational Church in Cheshire, CT. This below description below was provided by Dr. Sandy Anagnostakis from the Connecticut Agricutltural Experiment Station.

In 1876, S. B. Parsons of Flushing, New York, imported lily bulbs through plant collector Thomas Hogg for his garden in Connecticut, and one of the baskets contained, instead, seed of Castanea crenata. He planted the seed, and gave seedlings to all his friends. Two of these are still growing very well in Connecticut; one in Old Lyme on the grounds of the Bee and Thistle Inn, and one in Cheshire behind the Congregational Church.

Description by Dr. Sandy Anagnostakis

Though as you can see, this tree is magnificent in size and flower, it is exceeded by the Old Lyme Tree which hold the record in the Connecticut College list of Notable Trees. Should someone have the opportunity to visit and document the current holder of record for American chestnut (Castenea dentata) in Madison, we could provide am update here.

Champion Chestnuts in Connecticut.

Data from the Notable Trees for the state of Connecticut at Connecticut College
Species Year Meas. PTS Circ. height Spread Location
CASTANEA CRENATA 1989 196 135 43 71 OLD LYME
CASTANEA DENTATA 1991 133 53 70 38 MADISON
CASTANEA MOLLISSIMA 1990 177 108 53 63 GREENWICH
CASTANEA PUMILA 1998 38 20 12 23 WEST HARTFORD

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🌰 Harvest processing at TACF’s Meadowview Research Farms is equal parts important science and hands-on fun! Staff and volunteers shuck burs and sort chestnuts with care, ensuring quality seeds for future plantings and solid data for research. It’s a lively, rewarding way to support restoration while sharing in the joy of chestnut season together. 🌳

#AmericanChestnut #MeadowviewResearchFarms #americanchestnutfoundation#ChestnutResearch #ConservationScience #harvest
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5 CommentsComment on Facebook

That was our job after school pick up the chestnuts, we opened them up with our feet.

Are these trees pure dentata?

This isn’t a chestnut tree, right? It’s too old and healthy to be one.

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Join us on tomorrow, October 10, 2025, from 11:30AM – 1:00PM (EPT), for the next LIVE Chestnut Chat.

Our special guest, Dr. Trevor Walker, Assistant Professor of Forest Genetics and Co-Director of the Cooperative Tree Improvement Program at NC State University, will share insights from 70 years of breeding loblolly pine for disease resistance, growth, and stem form. He will also consider which practices are likely to succeed for American chestnut, which are not, and why.

Visit tacf.org/event/chestnut-chat-breeding-disease-resistance-in-loblolly-pine/ to learn more or register.
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Join us on tomorrow, October 10, 2025, from 11:30AM – 1:00PM (EPT), for the next LIVE Chestnut Chat.Our special guest, Dr. Trevor Walker, Assistant Professor of Forest Genetics and Co-Director of the Cooperative Tree Improvement Program at NC State University, will share insights from 70 years of breeding loblolly pine for disease resistance, growth, and stem form. He will also consider which practices are likely to succeed for American chestnut, which are not, and why.Visit https://tacf.org/event/chestnut-chat-breeding-disease-resistance-in-loblolly-pine/ to learn more or register.

1 CommentComment on Facebook

Just saw this. How was the chat?

Do you love pulling on your work gloves and cracking open freshly fallen burs to reveal the chestnuts inside? If you do, but don’t have any of your own yet, become a member and get access to our wild-type seed sale in 2026. In just a few years, your hands could be full of spiky burs and American chestnuts of your own. support.tacf.org/membership/new-regular ... See MoreSee Less

37 CommentsComment on Facebook

I use my boots to open them!

Porcupine eggs!!😂🤣

I have a bag full.

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We’re proud to share this segment from the PBS show Human Footprint, featuring former TACF staff member Sara Fitzsimmons. The American chestnut sequence was selected to be adapted into a standalone YouTube video, which launched in late September and has already garnered more than half a million views. Sara’s dedication and expertise have shaped much of the progress in restoring the American chestnut. Give it a watch to learn more about this important work. ... See MoreSee Less

Video image

3 CommentsComment on Facebook

Great presentation!

I’ll show this to Ben. His English Chestnut is bearing nuts; Ben has been eating them. His American chestnut is bearing seed pods but not mature yet. We will definitely watch this. Thank you.

🌰 Harvest season at TACF’s Meadowview Research Farms brings both beauty and breakthrough science. Many of the chestnut crosses we gather are generated through recurrent genomic selection—cutting-edge research driving restoration forward. Each bur holds not only the wonder of new life, but also the promise of a future where the majestic American chestnut returns to our forests. 🌳

#americanchestnut #castaneadentata #americanchestnutfoundation #ChestnutResearch #meadowviewresearchfarms
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Are there places we can purchases a Chestnut tree that is disease resistant? Thanks!

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