Love dem Cottonwoods and Silver Maples and Black Willows and ..... (MA)   Robert Leverett
  Mar 02, 2002 12:43 PST 


    Well folks, Jani and I just got back from a most successful tree outing. Colby, here come two new champions.


Species                Height                Circumference                Location

Catalpa                    85.0                        7.7'                            Smith's Ferry Road -private

Black Willow            83.7'                       21.6'                            Deerfield near RR. Private property


    I also measured a fine Cottonwood on the Oxbow. It towers.

Cottonwood            113.6'                        9.9'                             Oxbow - Northampton, ownership unknown


    The Catalpa and Black Willow are new height champions. The Black Willow may be a fusion of two trees or even three , but it is not clear that it is a fusion. At this point, I'll give it the benefit of the doubt. I'll now rework the Massachusetts tall tree list for posting on Monday to the ENTS website.

    The number of 100+ foot tall Silver Maples is going to become common place. The same is true of Cottonwoods. I'm embarrased to say that I missed the boat on both species. The Connecticut River Valley is proving to be a haven for large, tall Cottonwoods and Silver Maples.

    Tomorrow it is back to Ice Glen.

Bob
 editor's note:  This is the first post to appear on the Topica Server as part of the ENTSTrees@topica.com discussion list.