Savage River State Forest Orchard
On May 27, 2021, 17 wild American chestnuts were planted in the Peapatch Lane orchard in Garrett County. These seedlings join another group of about 20 trees planted two years earlier. These seedlings are part of the Maryland Chapter’s germ plasm preservation effort that is part of TACF’s effort to develop a blight resistant American chestnut hybrid. These seedlings will require about a decade to reach sufficient maturity to bloom and have nuts. By that time the parents of these trees will likely have succumbed to the blight. Wild American chestnuts are relatively common in western Maryland, but the vast majority of these trees are small understory trees with little chance to grow sufficiently to bloom and have nuts. And the majority of the trees that do have nuts are not in easily accessible locations. By creating germ plasm orchards with better access and growing conditions than in the wild, the Chapter hopes to have an important source of wild American mother trees for the next generation of hybridization.
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Watch this quick video to learn how we conduct controlled pollinations for our breeding program.
Learn more about our breeding program and our use of the recurrent genomic selection model: tacf.org/tree-breeding/
#americanchestnut #pollination #conservation #restoration #explore
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❤️ The original farmstead my property used to be a part of, grew chestnut trees and Hickory trees. The last two American Chestnut trees died about 6 years ago, they were right on the shoreline of a lake and unfortunately all their nuts fell in the water. They died cause they were both girdled by a beaver that had taken up residence on the lake. I would've done something to protect the two trees but unfortunately were not part of my property and all I could do was watch in horror. I wouldn't dare mess with trees that don't belong to me. I would however love to add some if it's possible to purchase American Chestnut back to our property, our parcel had the Shagbark Hickory trees on it.
Did you know that Allegheny chinquapins can get chestnut blight?
#americanchestnut #DidYouKnow #explore #nature #conservation
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Would it get a lot bigger if it didn't get the blight? If so, how much?
A wild American chestnut is always a sight to see, especially one with a healed canker.
Have you found any wild American chestnuts?
#americanchestnut #nature #envrionment #blight #explore
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Quite a few around us in CT, but none that big. I assume what we are seeing are stump sprouts.
God, I hope it has developed genetic resistance and passes that on. I want to live in a world full of American Chestnuts and Elms again
At my art residency in WV there was an American chestnut tree in their yard! I cried! I collected some of the seed pods
Every season tells a story… 🌰
Maybe it’s a chipmunk on the run, a chestnut sprouting new life, or snow dusting winter leaves. However you see it, we want you to capture it. The 2026 American Chestnut Photo Contest is open!
📸 Submit up to 5 photos
🏆 Chance to win TACF gear + a feature in Chestnut magazine + Seed Level membership
🗓️ Entries due December 31, 2026
Your next hike could lead to the winning shot.
Submit photos to: gro.fcat@snoitacinummoc
Visit the following link for more information: tacf.org/2026-photo-contest/
#naturelovers #americanchestnut #photographycontest #exploremore #photography
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Visit www.williamsondailynews.com/opinion/appalachian-bluebird-when-the-forests-were-brought-down-the-m... to explore this article on the historic logging industry, the significance of American chestnuts within it, and the methods used to transport logs from the mountains.
#americanchestnut #news #logging #history #explore
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Raping the earth really noble 🤬