Virginia News
Middle Mountain Workday
On April 30, a large group of 22 volunteers, including 15 members of Boy Scout Troop 79, worked on the orchard at Middle Mountain Farm in Albemarle County. The orchard, which contains nearly 300 seedlings, was started from seeds planted earlier this year. The...
Inoculations Completed
On July 1, volunteers completed inoculations of American chestnut trees at three Virginia breeding orchards: Blandy Farm in Clarke County, about 350 trees; Roland Farm in Fauquier County, about 250 trees; and Fortune’s Cove in Nelson County (about 350 trees)....
Bull Run Mountain Site Surviving
Recently, Michael and Ann Ritter joined Bill McShea of the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI) and staff of The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF) and hiked out in the humid, 90 degree July heat to see if the American chestnut seedlings that were still...
VA TACF Announces New PlantsMap Page!
The Virginia TACF proudly announces the inauguration of its PlantsMap page. The PlantsMap page shows the location of American chestnut trees planted throughout the state as a part of VA TACF’s ceremonial planting program. Here you will find the location of the...
Smithfield Plantation Planting April 22
The Virginia Chapter of TACF donated Restoration 1.0 seedling chestnuts to Historic Smithfield Plantation in Blacksburg, VA, which were planted on April 22. The ceremonial planting was in conjunction with the Daughters of the American Revolution, District VII, who...
Pollination Plans for 2015
As a part of our breeding program for native chestnuts, we perform controlled pollination. What we do is tie pollination bags on the female flowers of wild, surviving chestnuts. The first step is to count out and label bags. Then we get a bucket truck or orchard...
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Chestnuts look so beautiful during pollination season, their catkins (the yellow fuzzy blossoms) are often described as fireworks. 🌰 🎇
Which image is your favorite?
#americanchestnut #fieldwork #nature #pollination #explore
4 CommentsComment on Facebook
Wow. Way more explosive looking than the European chestnuts. Beekeepers should be all over that. It’s the most distinct honey I’ve ever had.  As for the aroma… Well… Enough said.
Catkins in my yard are buzzing with bees!
I have tended those trees. MD TACF, join us!
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
2 CommentsComment on Facebook
❤️ 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.
Big tree - Asian chestnut ?
Did you know that Allegheny chinquapins can get chestnut blight?
#americanchestnut #DidYouKnow #explore #nature #conservation
1 CommentComment on Facebook
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
22 CommentsComment on Facebook
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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