Kentucky News

Many Miles Completed in Search for wild, full American Chestnuts Across Kentucky

Our Kentucky Volunteers have driven and hiked many miles across the state searching wild full American Chestnuts and “Snapped” them into our data base using the free TreeSnap app. We estimate that we have observed close to 4,000 wild Americans, “Snapping” 1,543 “Observations” to date. When several small Americans are found in an area, we usually will “Snap” the largest two or three trees and enter into the comments section: “Can see X number more trees in a 30 yard radius”, or something similar.

This data helps to tell us where wild trees are growing, and the type of habitat, and also tells us size of trees being found. By far, most wild Americans observed are under 1.5” dbh (“diameter breast height, which is 4.5 feet above the soil”) which is the standard measuring point. Please DO NOT measure the tree near the base swell, which distorts the tree size for our scientists.

We are especially searching for larger wild Americans (“Large” in this case means 3” or wider diameter at breast height) … and even more importantly, we are searching for wild type Americans that are flowering, which occurs in mid to late June in Kentucky.

If you find such trees, we encourage you to utilize the TreeSnap App to enter the menu listed data, including crisp photos of top and bottom of leaves that will allow us to confirm American versus Chinese. If you find such trees or if you need assistance, please email to Ken Darnell, KY Chapter enthusiast in TreeSnap: dkdarnell@roadrunner.com and kendarnell54@gmail.com

Kentucky News Chapter Menu

Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons

Kentucky Facebook

Volunteer Work Day at TACF / EKU Partnership Regional Chestnut Seed Orchard completed November 14, 2023

Thank you EKU Biology Grad Students for a productive and fun day. We replaced old bird warning ribbons, cut out 200 sprouts from old stumps, watered seedlings for 8th time this year,

Thank You Alexia, Katie, Ricky, Zach, Hazen, Maddie, Hannah, and Jessee. Working with Amos and Ken ******
... See MoreSee Less

Volunteer Work Day at TACF / EKU Partnership Regional Chestnut Seed Orchard completed November 14, 2023

Thank you EKU Biology Grad Students for a productive and fun day.   We replaced old bird warning ribbons,  cut out 200 sprouts from old stumps, watered seedlings for 8th time this year, 

Thank You Alexia, Katie, Ricky, Zach, Hazen, Maddie, Hannah, and Jessee.    Working with Amos and Ken   ******Image attachmentImage attachment+1Image attachment

4 CommentsComment on Facebook

The Kentucky Chapter is blessed to have a strong Partnership with EKU's Biology Professors and Students. We have now sorted down to the most resistant 16% of the trees planted, and will continue to sort to the best 2% ***

We had a great time, thank you for showing us the ropes around the orchard!

Thanks!

Connie Wilson

Next VOLUNTEER WORK DAY EKU / TACF REGIONAL CHESTNUT SEED ORCHARD

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 14th 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

With four successful recent VOLUNTEER WORK DAYS now complete at EKU's deer fenced, Hybrid Chestnut Orchard, we have one more Work Day scheduled for this year.

Several EKU Biology Grad Students will join us to complete final details of trimming out sprouts, trimming along the fence, and replacing bird warning pink ribbons around the perimeter of the fence.

Join us. **** Bring loppers, hand pruners, pruning saws, water, lunch, leather shoes. Or, just come to meet fellow "Chestnutters" and to see our trees. 🙂

If you need directions to the orchard, text Ken Darnell: 859 585 9520 Or email: dkdarnell@roadrunner.com
... See MoreSee Less

Next VOLUNTEER WORK DAY     EKU / TACF REGIONAL CHESTNUT SEED ORCHARD    

TUESDAY    NOVEMBER 14th    10:00 am - 2:00 pm

With four successful recent VOLUNTEER WORK DAYS now complete at EKUs deer fenced, Hybrid Chestnut Orchard, we have one more Work Day scheduled for this year.   

Several EKU Biology Grad Students will join us to complete final details of trimming out sprouts, trimming along the fence, and replacing bird warning pink ribbons around the perimeter of the fence.

Join us.    ****    Bring loppers, hand pruners, pruning saws, water, lunch, leather shoes.   Or, just come to meet fellow Chestnutters and to see our  trees.     :-)

If you need directions to the orchard, text Ken Darnell:     859 585 9520              Or email:    dkdarnell@roadrunner.comImage attachment

VOLUNTEER WORK DAY at EKU REGIONAL CHESTNUT SEED ORCHARD

Saturday November 4, 2023

Many TACF Members, Partners and Volunteers involved in this event which began on August 25th when TACF Science Director Jared Westbrook and Mid Atlantic Regional Science Coordinator inspected and marked the next 600 hybrid American Chestnuts to be culled.

Our EKU Partners, mowed the orchard and chipped up previous brush piles to pre-prepare for this Volunteer Day. ***

16 Volunteers worked "like beavers" *** from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm to safely cut the marked trees, drag, salvage firewood, and stack the culled trees. The oldest trees were eight years old, and 25 feet tall.

From the original 3,674 trees planted, 3,083 trees have now been cut out due to their lower blight resistance exhibited. 591 of the strongest trees remain. We will continue to evaluate until we get down to our best 40 or so trees to utilize in our "BEST HYBRID" breeding.

Group Photo by Tandy Deskins, EKU
... See MoreSee Less

VOLUNTEER WORK DAY at EKU REGIONAL CHESTNUT SEED ORCHARD    

Saturday November 4, 2023

Many TACF Members, Partners and Volunteers involved in this event which began on  August 25th when TACF Science Director Jared Westbrook and Mid Atlantic Regional Science Coordinator inspected and marked the next 600 hybrid American Chestnuts to be culled.   

Our EKU Partners, mowed the orchard and chipped up previous brush piles to pre-prepare for this Volunteer Day.    ***

16 Volunteers worked like beavers   ***  from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm to safely cut the marked trees, drag, salvage firewood, and stack the culled trees.   The oldest trees were eight years old, and 25 feet tall.

From the original 3,674 trees planted, 3,083 trees have now been cut out due to their lower blight resistance exhibited.   591 of the strongest trees remain.   We will continue to evaluate until we get down to our best 40 or so trees to utilize in our BEST HYBRID breeding.        

Group Photo by Tandy Deskins, EKUImage attachmentImage attachment+2Image attachment

2 CommentsComment on Facebook

Thanks for your hard work! I may have helped plant some of them.

I’m so grateful to you all for what you’re doing! The loss of the American chestnut and it’s place in our culture has been forgotten by the last two generations. I pray we get them back like they were before the Chinese blight.

Load more