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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Volunteer opportunity In Pennsylvania for bur shucking! ... See MoreSee Less

Volunteer opportunity In Pennsylvania for bur shucking!Image attachmentImage attachment+1Image attachment

10 CommentsComment on Facebook

What wonderful work you are doing.

When you guys want volunteers to plant 🌱 baby chestnut 🌰 trees let me know. I will plant in my area and have friends that would love to volunteer

I pray they all will be successfully planted

Which campus?

What do you do with them after you harvest them? I love to eat them but the worms bear me to them most of the time

Wish I was closer I would love to help .

Where can I get established American chestnut seedlings 🌱 for my property?

Where can I purchase chestnut trees I live in ohio harrison county. I have seventy acres and would love to start Chestnuts in this area. Also is this a club that I can join

We want some seedlings to plant in Bedford pa

Send me a few, I've got 5 Acers in Ga.

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3 days ago
The American Chestnut Foundation

Great news: a special Chestnut Chat featuring student flash talks and a virtual poster session is taking place on October 20, 2023. This Chat will provide opportunities for students and professionals alike to share cutting-edge research, explore partnerships, and discuss the many facets of American chestnut restoration through a series of flash talks and a poster presentation. All are welcome to participate – student and professional alike.
There will be special opportunities for students to give flash talks, as well as participate in a student poster competition. This year, students participating in the poster competition must also present a flash talk. We hope you will join us!

Submissions are due by Friday, September 29, 2023. Please visit the link in comments for detailed information.

We encourage you to share this post with any colleagues who may be interested.
... See MoreSee Less

Great news: a special Chestnut Chat featuring student flash talks and a virtual poster session is taking place on October 20, 2023. This Chat will provide opportunities for students and professionals alike to share cutting-edge research, explore partnerships, and discuss the many facets of American chestnut restoration through a series of flash talks and a poster presentation. All are welcome to participate – student and professional alike.
There will be special opportunities for students to give flash talks, as well as participate in a student poster competition. This year, students participating in the poster competition must also present a flash talk. We hope you will join us!

Submissions are due by Friday, September 29, 2023. Please visit the link in comments for detailed information.

We encourage you to share this post with any colleagues who may be interested.

Watch a recording of the live September 15,
2023 Chestnut Chat webinar about Darling
58 regulatory updates.
TACF's Chief Conservation Officer Sara Fitzsimmons and SUNY ESF’s American Chestnut Research and Restoration Project Director Andy Newhouse, along with others, shared the latest updates about the current status of the Darling 58 transgenic American chestnut.

... See MoreSee Less

Video image

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The Georgia Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation The American Chestnut Foundation - Kentucky Chapter Tennessee Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation West Virginia Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation Virginia Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation Ohio Chapter of The American Chestnut foundation The Indiana Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation PA/NJ Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation

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