❤️ 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.

Would it get a lot bigger if it didn't get the blight? If so, how much?

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