ENTS,
On the way back from PA, Monica and I detoured via Pine Plains,
NY to
see the great Pine Plains sycamore. My only previous visit to it
was in
Oct 2001 at an ENTS rendezvous. As contrasted to the locations
of the
Pinchot and Sunderland sycamores, the Pine Plains tree is in an
idyllic
location. It is located a short distance into a very large corn
field
with long ridges on all sides that impart a peaceful rural
setting for
the huge sycamore. The ambience of the Pine Plains sycamore's
environment is far superior to that of any of the other sycamore
giants
in New England and New York.
Pine
Plains Sycamore Gallery from Oct 2001
The Pine Plains tree measures exactly what it did in Oct 2003.
It is
still 114.2 feet tall and its girth is 26.5 feet, and an average
limb
spread of around 140 feet, maybe slightly less. Vitality wise I
suspect
the great tree is just holding its own.
Monica really loves the Pine Plains sycamore. She spent quality
time
with it, looking at it from different sides, gazing up into its
crown. I
could see that she was trying to get the measure of the tree -
not in a
quantitative sense, but to understand its overall projection,
its
dominant personality. Secretly, I think it is now her favorite of
the
huge sycamores that we have thus far visited, although she feels
that to
publicly admit to that would betray her sincere dedication to
the
Sunderland Sycamore.
It is clear that Monica has a definite affinity for these great
old
trees and immerses herself in the energy fields that surround
them. They
are all great tree beings, but the Pine Plains tree projects
very
differently. It has a solid, quiet, gentle nature. It reflects
the
peaceful, rural characteristics of its setting with great
fidelity. It's
long twisted limbs speak to the many seasons of its life. Of
enduring
long winters. It's fallen leaves reflect the rustic earth tones
of the
corn field and the oak foliage on the surrounding ridges. Its
great
form, seen as a silhouette, against the fading sunset created a
sudden
nostalgia in me. It stands like a wise grandfather figure. It is
about
sense of place. Monica reinforced her attraction to the Pine
Plains
sycamore when she said a return visit to it would be welcome any
time.
Bob
Robert T. Leverett
Cofounder, Eastern Native Tree Society
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