Champions

That over in Orange County? (Yes. non Virginians there is an OC VA. Named for William IV Prince of Orange The Orange Order was a Protestant fraternal organization not citrus related)

Hi Rockm - this one is in Fauquier County.

- S
 
There are some very large old Cedar of Lebanon or Atlas Cedar (can't remember which) on the grounds of Montpelier (James Madison's house) in Orange.
I’ll definitely check that out. I visited there once, but I missed them. Probably distracted - so much to see!

S
 
Here’s a cool but unusual add. I think this may be the first dead tree I’ve posted. This Northern Red Oak is in White Oak Canyon in Shenandoah National Park. It fell in 2021 and the park service cut the section blocking the trail. The dense rings got the attention of an ecologist who cored it about 20’ from the root plate. He counted 347 rings, making it the oldest known Northern Red Oak. He estimated that it might contain 370 rings closer to the base. Not a champion, and certainly very dead. But I figured the oldest red oak on record was worth a mention.
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awesome inspiration thnx for posting all these pictures.
i recently figured out little more on how to use my cannon camera so maybe one of these days ill have to go trough the park here to take some shots.
 
I found this interesting Sierra Juniper in the mountains last week, fascinating to wonder why it's all twisted and knotted compared with all the other trees growing up right.
Beautiful, has a very bonsai-like shape already too. Just speculating but it could be a genetic abnormality, or it's just so old that it has seen harsher times than all the others in the grove.

Unfortunately I only took one picture of the Santa Barbara Moreton Bay Fig when I was in college there 10 years ago, and it's at night, but here it is:

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This is an old yew we saw in Fougere, France - hard to convey the size and age of it, but the trunk was like a refrigerator. Saw some new stumps where a couple must have passed, looked like pier pilings - sorry they're sideways

B
 

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When I was in the military, I used to drive by this tree from time to time on Vieques Island. They call it the Ceiba Enchanting Tree. A couple guys shot guns over our bus right down the road in that picture to intimidate us. Those were interesting times.

https://vieques.com/vieques-attractions-ceiba-tree/

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Beautiful, has a very bonsai-like shape already too. Just speculating but it could be a genetic abnormality, or it's just so old that it has seen harsher times than all the others in the grove.

Unfortunately I only took one picture of the Santa Barbara Moreton Bay Fig when I was in college there 10 years ago, and it's at night, but here it is:

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What an awesome tree!
 
This tree was the largest noble fir. It’s dead now, but still impressive.
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An illustration of the former champion, by Robert Van Pelt. Bob started the Washington Big Tree Program in 1987. He is regarded as an authority on old growth, having authored numerous articles and books on the subject.
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The next largest noble fir is probably in the same stand or nearby. By diameter, this tree is in the top 10.
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A stand full of giants. The scale messes with you, “average” looking trees are 6-9’ in diameter…
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This tree was the largest noble fir. It’s dead now, but still impressive.
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An illustration of the former champion, by Robert Van Pelt. Bob started the Washington Big Tree Program in 1987. He is regarded as an authority on old growth, having authored numerous articles and books on the subject.
View attachment 617424

The next largest noble fir is probably in the same stand or nearby. By diameter, this tree is in the top 10.
View attachment 617422View attachment 617418

A stand full of giants. The scale messes with you, “average” looking trees are 6-9’ in diameter…
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Great tree. Thanks for sharing this!

S
 
Beautiful, has a very bonsai-like shape already too. Just speculating but it could be a genetic abnormality, or it's just so old that it has seen harsher times than all the others in the grove.

Unfortunately I only took one picture of the Santa Barbara Moreton Bay Fig when I was in college there 10 years ago, and it's at night, but here it is:

View attachment 617350
Did you go to UCSB? Go Gaucho's! I've seen this incredible tree many times:)
 
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