ENTS,  

I measured a Big Loblolly Pine at Gulf Islands National
Seashore Park Sunday. Most of the Park was hit hard by Hurricane
Katrina. The Park is located in Ocean Springs and contains around 1200
acres of mostly Loblolly Pine, with some Long Leaf. The Park also has
White Oak, Swamp White, Post, Red, Cherrybark Oak. Magnolia, Cedar,
Bay, Poplar, Sweetgum, Cypress, Hickory and Black Cherry. There is one
Chestnut Oak growning in poor condition, the only one I know of on the
Ms Gulf coast.

Alot of Loblolly's blown down had around 85-90 rings with 2' Dia. I
found one big Loblolly on a small Peninsula adjacent to a Bayou that
runs throughout the Southern end of the Park. With marsh on all sides
the CBH-9'4", Height-105' and Spread-63'. This is the Largest Loblolly
Pine I have seen in Southern Ms., growing 1/4 to 1/8 mile from the Ms.
Sound. I'm guessing it to be 130 years old.


Lobloly Pine CBH 9'4", Height 105, Spread 63'

Gulf Islands National Seashore Park is a very special place and I have
been coming here for over 30 years. The last 3 decades have not been
kind to the Park with much Tree damage and loss from Hurricanes,
Frederic-1979, Eleana-1985, Georges-1998 and Katrina-2005.





Ed, I'll
send you a couple of photos off list.      

Larry