Chapter 634

12/21/2022

Big Tree Chapter

johnie poplar seed

I found the largest Eastern Cottonwood tree in the world. Maybe.

You might not believe me but for reference I submit three newspaper links; New York Times,     Schenectady Gazette,     Albany Times Union.  Of course the links may not work- freedom of information is not free.

For a sense of scale they measured the circumference to be just shy of 35 feet, roughly 100 feet high with a crown of 100 feet. The guy who re-discovered this tree a half hour from my home would not tell me where it was located. I drove around the likely area but did not come up with the exact location. Then I went into internet detective mode. Found a reference to the home owners from a 1972 newspaper (Fulton Postcards). Went thru the online Rensselaer County Real Property data and found the surname and address.

It is private property so I launched drone from public highway down the road. Stealth mode seemed to work. No one came out of their houses looking around. I deleted the houses from the pictures so as not to give away the location. I now see that the Gazette also droned with less artistic quality and had left in the houses.

Notice the range for deltoides shows minimal coverage in NY yet we have some great growing habitat for them. Drought resistent river floodplains with rich soil. They have applied for official recognition as the biggest Eastern Cottonwood (populus deltoides) in NY and the U.S. but will take time. There are various formulas used apparently.  There are other poplar trees within this genus and other sub species within detloites. 

The NYSDEC maintains a list of registered big trees in NY based on our formulation. Our tree will outpoint the current National Champions in Kansas and Nebraska based on the national formula. And will be the biggest tree in NY, greater than oaks or pines based on points score.

Can't do a chapter without reference to Youtube. Here is an interesting / hilarious influencer describing the various uses of cottonwoods. He mentions feeding the bark to his livestock. I saw another reference where General Custer fed his horses in that manner on his way to Little Big Horn massacre.

I have many poplars, cottonwoods, and aspen on my property and in the river basins I walk. Took this pic at sunset after I was exiting the Vischer Ferry Preserve two days ago.

I recalled one picture of a Bald Eagle I took in 2004 sitting in a I big Eastern Cottonwood tree in Mechanicville on the edge of the Hudson River. You can see the triangular deltoid shaped leaves with their toothy margin that give the species it's name.

Better cut this short because forestry is not at the top of the list of interests for most people. They used to call me a stumpy, for reason. I'd love to be more involved an photograph this champion tree and others but I don't think they want me to.