The national Register of big trees 2004-2005

American Forests, Spring, 2004 by Karen Fedor

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RELATED ARTICLE: BLACK WALNUT

Sauvie Island, Oreon's black walnut (Juglans nigra) has reigned as national champion since 1991. The tree, on Gillihan Road, was estimated at 90 to 100 years at the time of its nomination. It stands 130 feet high with a 140-foot crown spread and a trunk more than 23 feet around for a total of 443 points. There are more than a dozen fruit and nut trees listed in the National Register of Big Trees, including five types of walnut, although this is the only one in Oregon. Oregon ranks 8th among states with the most champs.

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RELATED ARTICLE: ONCE IN A LIFETIME

South Carolina is a gracious, beautiful state of historic homes, coastal towns, and massive trees. It can also be a place of mosquitoes, intense heat, and snakes. For grad students Chisolm Beckham and Bill Jordan, putting the two together to verify trees for the state's Champion Tree Project was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The two came away with stories like Beckham's tale of slogging through a swamp populated with wild hogs and so-called widow makers, but also Jordan's story of the director of a Chamber of Commerce who personally drove him to an old plantation to find the state champ southern redcedar.

Big as they are, the trees are not always easy to find. Sometime it was "like working for a collection agency," Beckham recalls. "I would dial 411 and give the name and last known city of residence of the nominee or landowner." Often there would be no one listed by that name, so he would then ask for people with the same last name and choose "old school" first names like Ruford, Chester, or Louise. Often "someone at the other end of those names knew, or had known, the tree and the person in question."

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Big tree hunting also brought the two men face to face with the changes progress had wrought on their state. "Often when I found the location of a previous champion, the area would be totally different, usually because of residential or commercial development," Jordan recalled. "The majestic tree that once grew there was probably bulldozed by people who had no idea of its noble designation."

But regardless how the years have changed the landscape, an abiding love of trees has remained. "Many people seem to have a special place in their hearts for trees, and especially 'Champion Trees," Jordan says. "Wherever I went, whether it was small homes of modest means or gated private communities, when I explained my purpose in being there, the red carpet was rolled out."

He speculates that may be because a "powerful connection" seems to exist between trees and people. There is a theory, Jordan explains, that this is caused by a "genetic memory" connection related to prehistoric man's dependence on trees for survival and comfort. It's nice to know some things never change.

--Karen Fedor, vice president, Global ReLeaf and Big Tree coordinator