Indiana Sites   doug bidlack   Dec 20, 2006 02:40 PST  Hello ENTS, just thought I'd let you know about a couple of places in Indiana with big trees. I happened upon these sites while looking for champion swamp white oak acorns. In 2003 the Indiana champ was listed as being in Jay County, but I had to go to Earlham College to get directions to the tree. Bill  gave me directions to a small forest with plenty of nice sized trees. Go north of Portland via US 27 and go right on CR 100 N. Go left at next road just beyond railroad tracks. Small patch of woods on right. I was told to go to the center of the woods and the largest tree would be the swamp white oak. The largest tree I saw was a white oak and I saw a couple nice bur oaks, but no really big swamp white oak. Nice trees though. Earlier this year I went to find the biggest Indiana swamp white oak again. It turns out they have a new one and it's even bigger. I contacted Philip Meltzer and he said he'd meet me at the old farm in Shelby County. This site is east of Shelbyville. Take 44 east out of Shelbyville to 421 south to 244 east and then take a left on CR 600 E towards Meltzer. The small forest is on the left about a quarter mile up or so. Please call Philp first if you go. His daughter and son-in-law now own the place, but he would love to take anyone who loves trees on a tour of his little 58 acre (I think?) forest. Philip is now well into his eighties but he is very enthusiastic about the forest and the place where he was born and raised. The swamp white oak is listed as being 155' tall, 169.6" in girth and a crown spread of 88.5'. I'm sure the height is well off, but the trees really are incredibly tall. The largest tree in the forest is a shumard oak and it was once the largest in Indiana until a larger one was found farther south. There are also nice white oaks, bur oaks, chinkapin oaks, northern red oaks, white ash, walnut, tuliptrees, shagbark hickories and plenty of other good stuff. The largest black ash in Indiana is at this site. Kinda neat, because the place also has sweetgums. Tons of pawpaws in the understory too. Unfortunately, the largest white ash is now gone and I think Philip said that the largest white oak also went down. Luckily for me the swamp white oak was producing acorns. Good news for Christmas! I am also getting a Nikon Prostaff 440 laser rangefinder under the tree. I can hardly wait! I'll be in Michigan for Christmas, so I'll calibrate it and test it on some trees on my parents property before turning it loose. I hope to visit Warren Woods and measure some beeches, maples and other nice trees. I also hope to measure the largest black walnut in Michigan on the way out there...I've already met the owners on a previous seed collecting trip. So many trees to measure, so little time! Doug   Home