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I looked at these trees on Hyde Hill Rd. (think they are the same ones -
directions are inconsistent) this morning. The one I found that was
flowering was about 30 ft. tall with heavy male flowers starting at 15
ft. Could not see many females but the males were so dense and
bushy it was hard to see. Flowers all on one side, hanging over the
road. Found one old bur on ground at base of tree. Could have
been more but it was a gravel road with big ditch that had recently been
dug out and scraped and most would have fallen into it. Tree is
heavily blighted with largest canker right at the base, about 300 degrees
of the trunk involved. Many smaller ones visible up the main
stem.<br><br>
There was another tree nearly as large about 20 ft. further down the
road, upper half dead from blight and no blossoms. There were
several small trees along the road side within a couple hundred yards of
these, those with any size showing blight. I drove the road as far
as the Williamsburg town line (1+ mile) and saw numerous small chestnuts
along the road side (no flowers visible). The whole area is heavily
wooded, so could be more off the road.<br><br>
I started getting excited when I first saw all the blossoms hanging out
over the road, relatively low, but after seeing the extent of the blight
and seemly small number of females, I concluded it was a marginal tree at
best. Although I didn't find a 2nd tree with blossoms, it was a
pretty cursory search. Considering the abundance of trees I saw
along the roadside, it seems like a good chance there is something
blossoming in the woods somewhere nearby. All of the Chestnut trees
I looked at closely appeared to be American.<br><br>
Attached 3 low resolution pictures. Have more, higher resolution
(including leaves) if anybody is interested.<br><br>
Problem with the directions: it is a left onto Hyde Hill Rd. from
<u>South</u> Chesterfield Rd. Right is Pond Hill Rd. I also
drove along Pond Hill Rd. for a ways but did not see any large
chestnut. Probably worthwhile going back when I have more time (and
its not starting to rain) to do more thorough search, with the person
reporting them involved.<br><br>
Brian<br><br>
At 11:32 AM 7/20/2009, you wrote:<br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">These sound like potentially
very nice trees, has anyone ID'd the leaves?<br><br>
The unfortunate thing about there being two is that if it's past the time
to<br>
bag them this year, they might have pollinated each other so I'd think
we<br>
would want to wait for next year.<br><br>
Anyone up there want to check them out?<br><br>
Yvonne<br><br>
<br>
On 7/20/09 11:21 AM, "Kathy Desjardin"
<kathydesjardin@verizon.net> wrote:<br><br>
> As I was reading these e-mails, the phone rang and I conversed with
an elderly<br>
> woman from Goshen, MA who was intent on reporting two American trees
in bloom<br>
> along Hyde Hill Rd. She's been watching these trees for years
and just found<br>
> them in bloom this year.<br>
> They are approximately 40' - 50' tall. I asked how many
clusters of catkins<br>
> she sees and she thinks about 50 - 100.<br>
> <br>
> Helen notice the bloom within the last few days. Actually
she's at her<br>
> cottage there.<br>
> Normally she resides in Wakefield, RI. She apologized for not
calling sooner,<br>
> but indicated that her husband has been ill and just passed away
this week.<br>
> In the midst of all this, she took time to call us. She will
be available<br>
> today in Goshen. Tomorrow she is going to R.I. to make funeral
arrangements<br>
> for a memorial service in August. She will be back in Goshen on
Wednesday.<br>
> She said she'd be happy to meet anyone who wishes to check out the
trees or<br>
> feels that with the directions she gave we can easily find the
trees, which<br>
> would be accessible by bucket truck.<br>
> <br>
> Coming from the north, Rt.9 you would turn onto S. Main St., then a
right on<br>
> West Chesterfield Rd. and then a right onto Hyde Hill Rd. She
said the trees<br>
> are right alongside the road and in bloom. Her contact info is
Helen Behrens<br>
> - 413-268-0309.<br>
> <br>
> In Rhode Island she resides at 127 Firelane, #1, Wakefield,
RI. Her phone<br>
> there is<br>
> 401-783-1133. Helen uses a computer, but while in Goshen
must unplug it and<br>
> go to a neighbors picnic table to pick up a signal. Her e-mail
is<br>
> Hbehrens1@cox.net<br>
> <br>
> Kathy<br>
> <br><br>
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</blockquote>
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<font size=2><i>Brian Clark<br>
42B Clark Rd.<br>
Ashfield, MA 01330<br>
413-625-2791, cell 507-269-4249<br>
brianeclark@hughes.net</i></font> <br>
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