Grafting wild Full American Chestnut Scions onto Chinese Chestnut Trees in TACF / EKU Hybrid Orchard, Richmond, KY February 19, 2026
Kentucky Chapter Board Member, Dr. Austin Thomas, preparing to graft full American Chestnut scions, from our "TreeSnap" Inventory. He has successful grafting experience with other tree species.
American Chestnuts are difficult to graft and keep alive long enough to produce nuts. Dr. Thomas will use larger diameter scions of 6 mm up to 12 mm (nearly 1/2") that we will collect in early March from wild trees, to then graft on higher, fast growing branch tips on a few Chinese Chestnuts planted in the TACF / EKU as "Process Controls".
Chinese Chestnuts are healthy and resistant to the blight to provide the best possible growth energy to the American scions added to the tips of branches that are receiving full sunlight. Grafting wax and grafting tape will be applied to the graft union to maximize strength of these larger scions. Additionally, a cellophane bag will be placed over the union to increase temperature.
We realize that successful grafting per centages are typically low........Goal is to develop a few full American branches that will produce Controlled Pollinated nuts, with selected father pollen, quickly, in perhaps three years. Those valuable nuts will then be planted in our Full American KY DNA Germplasm Conservation Orchard at KY Division of Forestry's Morgan County Tree Nursery.
Dr. Thomas is a Scientist at UK Forestry Department, primarily working on the genetics of the White Oak Initiative, and also dedicates some of his valuable time to work on Chestnut Research Projects with TACF Scientists and Science Partners. He received his PhD at North Carolina State in Forestry and Environmental Resources, Minor in Entomology.
The last photo shows KY Chapter President Ken Darnell evaluating with Dr. Thomas, several of our BETTER hybrid Americans in the EKU Orchard. We will continue to cut out lower blight resistant trees until only our BEST 1% remain (about 40 trees out of 3,650 planted). Those few BEST trees will be utilized in next round of breeding for increased blight resistance in the next generation of orchard trees.
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KY Chapter with Partners, Eastern KY University Biology Department and Bernheim Forest 2/12/26
EKU Biology Department Greenhouse, Richmond, KY
EKU's Dr. Jennifer Koslow (and V.P. of the KY TACF Chapter), with Elijah Rosenbaum, Bernheim Forest Horticulturalist whose work includes Bernheim's Trees of Concern, and Ken Darnell, (KY Chapter President) potted nuts from a variety of full American Chestnuts to plant around May 1st to add to our Kentucky DNA full American Chestnut Germplasm Conservation Orchard at our Partner Kentucky Division of Forestry's Morgan County Tree Nursery. Elijah has just joined us as an active, motivated Volunteer to assist in the actions required to help the national efforts to develop a blight resistant American Chestnut. * * * *
Ken Darnell presented to Bernheim Forest via Elijah, two recent editions of The American Chestnut Foundations CHESTNUT JOURNAL Magazine, and 25 hybrid nuts from our TACF/EKU hybrid breeding orchard, from trees #1906 and #646, two of our "Better" specimens. Photos show Elijah hands on at those two trees, followed by a big "Tree Hug" to another specimen of our "Better" trees. * * * * Gifts to Bernheim Forest to consider for Public Education planting. 🌳🌳🌳🌳
Bernheim Forest Trees of Concern
Bernheim Forest is actively working to protect several trees of concern, including the oak tree, black walnut, and American chestnut. These trees are facing various threats such as habitat loss, climate change, and diseases like thousand cankers disease and chestnut blight. The Forest is committed to promoting oak regeneration and protecting these species through research and stewardship efforts. Additionally, Bernheim Forest has been granted national accreditation by the Plant Collections Network of the American Public Gardens Association, allowing them to collaborate with other institutions to save these trees and their habitats. bernheim.org/
Kentucky Division of Forestry Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest
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INVITATION from the Kentucky Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation to JOIN US at our 2026 ANNUAL MEETING
Saturday September 12th at the beautiful Woodlands Conference Center adjacent to NATURAL BRIDGE STATE RESORT PARK Hemlock Lodge Next to the 29,000 acre Red River Gorge.
Agenda will be developed this summer, but we will begin the meeting with Social Hour from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. with a variety of muffins and pastries, with coffee and juices.
Deli Style lunch in the meeting room to maximize social time: Sliced turkey, ham and roast beef, an assortment of breads and cheeses, tossed garden salad or cole slaw, cookies/brownies, soft drinks and bottled water.
Presentations of action updates of national TACF and of the Kentucky Chapter will begin at 8:30 a.m., and conclude shortly after lunch, followed by optional short hikes in the area to see wild American Chestnuts, or optional social time in the meeting room.
Additionally, there are many activities in the area to enjoy: Explore | Natural Bridge State Resort Park Natural Bridge State Park, a Kentucky State Park located near Irvine, Richmond
For those who wish to stay in the lodge or one of the one or two bedroom cottages in the forest near the lodge: Kentucky State Park rules are that a Friday or Saturday reservation, MUST be for both of those nights.......We suggest that you book early as they sell out quickly.
Kentucky State Parks Lodge Reservations - Book Your Stay Reservations website
(606) 663-2214
There are also several RV campgrounds nearby.
There are no charges for admission or for the drinks, snacks and lunch that will be provided by the Kentucky Chapter. We will offer cash raffle and silent auction to help the KY Chapter offset some of the meeting costs. …and of course, donations of any size are always welcome.
Attendees must RSVP to Ken Darnell, KY Chapter President. Please let us know ASAP if you can JOIN US. We welcome "Plus Ones" * * * * *
Via email: moc.liamg@45llenradnek or Text: 859 585 9520
Kentucky Division of Forestry
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