Carolinas News

The Chestnut Tree Orchard in The Park at Glassy

The Park at Glassy is a beautiful, expansive, woodland sanctuary below the upper post office and the Children’s Village near the top of Glassy Mountain. It comprises 17 acres of sunny open areas, walking paths, shaded woodland trails, a waterfall, and several 100-yr old trees. Well-behaved dogs can roam off-leash, and attractive native plants, such as trillium, bloodroot, and devil’s walking stick bloom at various times. The upper level of the park is home to the Larry Recknagel Chestnut Tree Orchard.

In 2003, Larry Recknagel was a new Glassy resident concerned about the near-extinction of the American chestnut tree (Castanea dentata) due to blight. Working with Dr. Paul Sisco from The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF), he realized that the Park area would be appropriate for a selective breeding test orchard to renew the American chestnut tree. In 2008, after conquering multiple levels of bureaucracy, they got permission to move forward. A community of Glassy volunteers helped to prepare the land and plant 100 trees. Since the Chinese chestnut tree was resistant to the fungus, the experimental trees were pure Chinese, Chinese-American crosses and pure American chestnuts.

After several years, they inoculated the experimental trees with chestnut blight to evaluate their resistance. Those with little or no resistance were removed. Today, 7 trees of various sizes remain, and selective breeding studies continue with TACF and Clemson University. Unfortunately, Larry Recknagel passed away in 2010 and didn’t get to see the large, resistant, surviving chestnut trees spreading thousands of chestnuts over the orchard area.

The loss of the American chestnut tree earned recognition as one of the worst ecological disasters of the 20th century. The Asian fungus (Cryphonectria parasitica) that causes chestnut blight was first identified in 1904 on trees in the Bronx zoo. By the 1950s, about four to five billion chestnut trees (90-99% of the population) had died. The demise of the trees also led to decreased numbers of birds, mammals, and insects that depended on them for food and shelter.

Losing the trees was also a social disaster that changed the lives of many people. The lumber had been an excellent source of income. The tree became known as the “cradle to grave” tree because the wood could be used for cradles and caskets, other furniture, railroad ties, fences, shingles, and telephone poles. “Chestnutting”, or gathering the nuts, was a popular social activity and a source of food and income; railroad cars loaded with nuts would cross the country from rural areas to big cities.

Today, TACF and other groups still focus on restoring native chestnut trees in their original range from Maine to Mississippi. These efforts use a three-pronged approach known as 3BUR—Breeding, Biocontrol, and Biotechnology United for Restoration. The hybrid trees in the Park at Glassy are part of the breeding program. Newer research on genetically engineered resistance awaits government approval to introduce engineered trees into the wild.

When you visit the Park at Glassy, take some time to learn more from the TACF sign about the chestnut orchard and note the various chestnut trees.

The TACF sign explaining the Larry Recknagel Chestnut Tree orchard. SC

The TACF sign explaining the Larry Recknagel Chestnut Tree orchard.

In the fall, spiny chestnut burrs and nuts cover the ground; they are a favorite of the local squirrels, birds, deer, and bear. The effect of the blight is most obvious in winter; the stunted main trunks and multiple large side sprouts are typical on the larger trees.

The chestnut tree showing the effect of the blight on its growth. SC

The chestnut tree showing the effect of the blight on its growth.

Not knowing about the research effort, some people suggested cutting them down because of their appearance. In the spring, the white male and female flowers stand out.

Female flowers on American Chestnut Tree. SC.

Female flowers on American Chestnut Tree.

Paper bags over the reproductive organs control pollination as part of the selective breeding program. The seeds that were generated last year are being planted in the greenhouse of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and the US forest Services’ Resistance Screening Center in Asheville.

Bags covering reproductive organs to control pollination.

Bags covering reproductive organs to control pollination.

Thanks to the foresight of Larry Recknagel 20 years ago and a community of volunteers, the Park at Glassy has been part of an ongoing research effort to reestablish the American chestnut tree in its native range. We hope that the research contributes to the successful reintroduction of this beautiful tree.

Editor’s Note: The Cliffs at Glassy is a community west of Landrum, SC. This article, by Betty Kuhnert, was originally published in Stroll (The Cliffs Communities) Magazine, May 2023, page 58-59.   Dr. Paul Kuhnert, Dr. Paul Sisco, Dr. David Vaughn, and Mrs. Susan Recknagel contributed to the article. Dr. Paul Sisco started working with Larry Recknagel in 2003.  Larry and a group of Glassy volunteers prepared the ground and installed the orchard in 2008. The Stroll Magazine is a product of The N2 Company, 5051 New Center Drive, Wilmington, NC, 28403

 

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Reminder: This year's American Chestnut Photo Contest goes all the way through the end of the year, so when you're out hiking or harvesting chestnuts, take some photos and submit them to us!

To learn more about the rules and prizes, visit tacf.org/2025-photo-contest/
... See MoreSee Less

Reminder: This years American Chestnut Photo Contest goes all the way through the end of the year, so when youre out hiking or harvesting chestnuts, take some photos and submit them to us! To learn more about the rules and prizes, visit https://tacf.org/2025-photo-contest/

1 CommentComment on Facebook

Distinguishing features between American and European chestnut would be welcome. I'm sure some American chestnut must have been planted in England before the Boston Tea Party but the species leaves look very similar.

Restoring Trees, Inspiring Hope 🌱 TACF staff Lucinda Wigfield, Jim Tolton, and Brian Henrich joined monitoring efforts for Virginia round-leaf birch (Betula uber) progeny in the Washington & Jefferson National Forest. Led since the 1970s by Dr. Terry Sharik, this collaboration offers valuable lessons from a native tree restoration program well along in reintroduction and long-term monitoring. 🌳

#Restoration #americanchestnut #castaneadentata #americanchestnutfoundation #ChestnutResearch #meadowviewresearchfarms
... See MoreSee Less

Restoring Trees, Inspiring Hope 🌱 TACF staff Lucinda Wigfield, Jim Tolton, and Brian Henrich joined monitoring efforts for Virginia round-leaf birch (Betula uber) progeny in the Washington & Jefferson National Forest. Led since the 1970s by Dr. Terry Sharik, this collaboration offers valuable lessons from a native tree restoration program well along in reintroduction and long-term monitoring. 🌳 #Restoration #americanchestnut #castaneadentata #americanchestnutfoundation #ChestnutResearch #meadowviewresearchfarms

Growing the Future of Restoration 🌱 Nursery Manager Brian Henrich and Emory & Henry University Bonner Scholar Maddy Rossi-Dupas prepare Large Surviving American (LSA) progeny seedlings—harvested from Lesesne State Forest and grown at Meadowview Research Farms—for Chapter plantings. Meadowview’s efforts extend far beyond its own fields, strengthening TACF Chapters and fueling chestnut restoration across our range.

#americanchestnut #castaneadentata #americanchestnutfoundation #ChestnutResearch #meadowviewresearchfarms
... See MoreSee Less

Growing the Future of Restoration 🌱 Nursery Manager Brian Henrich and Emory & Henry University Bonner Scholar Maddy Rossi-Dupas prepare Large Surviving American (LSA) progeny seedlings—harvested from Lesesne State Forest and grown at Meadowview Research Farms—for Chapter plantings. Meadowview’s efforts extend far beyond its own fields, strengthening TACF Chapters and fueling chestnut restoration across our range. #americanchestnut #castaneadentata #americanchestnutfoundation #ChestnutResearch #meadowviewresearchfarmsImage attachment

4 CommentsComment on Facebook

The TACF and local state chapters do an annual seed sale if you are a member. You can look at this page for more info tacf.org/american-chestnut-seeds-and-seedlings/

Bless you all for doing this critical work. Blight resistant American Chestnut trees in my lifetime would be a dream realized.

Love it!!!

Have you visited our events calendar lately? Fall is prime time for chestnuts, so get out into your community and go on a hike, visit an orchard, or purchase a seedling!

Visit tacf.org/events/category/tacf/ for more information about upcoming events in the American chestnut's native range.
... See MoreSee Less

Have you visited our events calendar lately? Fall is prime time for chestnuts, so get out into your community and go on a hike, visit an orchard, or purchase a seedling! Visit https://tacf.org/events/category/tacf/ for more information about upcoming events in the American chestnuts native range.

The amazing Bette Midler on why she started the New York Restoration Project--and at the 3:15 mark, watch her talk about and plant a chestnut! ... See MoreSee Less

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3 CommentsComment on Facebook

What a wonderful person ! Go Bette !!!!

Patti Clark

Michelle Waskie

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