Fairmount park 2006   wad-@comcast.net   Oct 11, 2006 18:28 PDT  ENTS Fairmount Park would not let me see the real big ones today. I can confirm that the area north of Bell's mill rd is NOT the place to find the really big ones. I got close with one Tulip that weighed in at 12.2x 154.7   soooo close!! but it was an abnormally large tree for the area. I agree with Will though as there is alot of Devil's walking stick in there. There were many different kinds of trees. Chestnut oak, sweet birch, white oak, red oak, black walnut, red maple, and beech. I only saw one hickory all day?   Most of the area was overrun with invasives, but I did see Asarum canadense, native ginger, all over the place, like a carpet in some areas. This was the first time I ever saw it in the wild. Big leaf and umbrella magnolia was rampant in the understory, along with norway maple, dogwood, spicebush and devil's walking stick. There were viburnums and Chokeberry here and there. In some areas you would actually sink into the worm castings, they were so deep. We met the reporter from the City paper and their photographer and began to explore the Andorra natural area. This place was the home of the Andorra Nursery from 1866 until the 1960's. It was a retail nursery that covered many acres and had just about every plant known for the times. (we saw old catalogs) The old nursery fields were let go along time ago and a walk through the woods was like a treasure hunt. Apparently an invasive weed called Bishops weed got into the nursery and invaded the root balls. It is rumored to have led to the nursery's demise. It was everywhere. Lesser celandine is also a major problem here.   Some of the trees that are now out in the woods: Dove tree Japanese Plum Yew Empress tree Big leaf magnolia these two mags have seeded into the rest of the park. Umbrella magnolia Silver and american linden Moss false cypress Cucumber magnolia Burr oak Kentucky coffee tree new state champ at 9.8 x 93.6 Assorted asian hollies Assorted rhododenrons European beech 21.4 x 102.5 very low branched specimen Norway spruce 10.2 x 99 Chinese cedrilla aka Toon Cryptomeria We found a new state champ Kentucky coffee tree 9.8 x 93.6 with a 72' spread and a couple of big cukes 12.3 x 110.8 and 15.2 x 76.3 In time I will work my way through the park. The 154' tulip poplar is the tallest tree I have measured in the East. Scott (and lurker Megan) RE: fairmount park   Robert Leverett   Oct 12, 2006 06:14 PDT  Scott, Your 12.2 x 154.7 tulip poplar gives you an entry into the rather exclusive 12 x 150 club. Congratulations. Bob RE: fairmount park   wad-@comcast.net   Oct 11, 2006 05:13 PDT  Ed I read his report and one other, which seemed to have been concentrated on the south end of the park. I have to go to the Andorra natural area for the article, so I am going in above the covered bridge in the northern most section. Hopefully I won't need a side arm! Scott RE: fairmount park   wad-@comcast.net   Oct 12, 2006 17:37 PDT  Bob The tree Will measured in 2003 must be 160' by now. In that thread they talked about publicity for the site. Consider it done. The City Paper will be doing an article on Oct 19th. Fairmount Park is running an article in their upcoming newsletter. I have provided them with links and info to the Penna. Forestry Assoc., my website and ENTS. Hopefully it will spark some intrest. Most of S. NJ and De are in the coastal plain. I don't see too many tall trees coming from there.   N. De may have some surprises as the state champ is at Winterthur. An old DuPont estate turned public garden. I did see some big tulips in the Princeton area too. You hit it on the head with the congestion. It took me over an hour to get to Fairmount Park, and it is only about 20 miles away. My wife's birthday is the 28th, so maybe next year we can have it in Pa. Scott RE: fairmount park   Robert Leverett   Oct 12, 2006 09:08 PDT  Scott,    Finding a 160-foot tuliptree in Fairmount would push the envelope for ENTS. As you know we have tulips in the 150s in the Vanderbilt Estate in New York and we have the one tree over 150 in Zoar Valley. I feel certain there are a few 150s in Connecticut, and maybe a 160, but so far haven't had any leads on where to look. Based on what I've seen thus far, Massachusetts is not a viable candidate for 150-foot tulips. I can't even break 140. So, I feel certain that New Jersey has some 150 tulips and possible a 160, but I just don't want to fight that incredible congestion hunting for them, unless I know right where to go. I suspect the same story is true for Delaware. Gotta be some tulips approaching 160 on some of the old estates. However, for now, Southern PA in general, and Fairmount Park in particular may be as far north as the 160s go. So, it's in your capable hands. We will sing your praises when you confirm one.    We sure wish you could make it to Massachusetts for the ENTS rendezvous.   Home