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.