Black Oak, East Granby

Quercus velutina, Black Oak
Private Property, East Granby

Location: It’s not in a yard or anything, so if you really want to know…
Height: 79 Feet
Circumference: 344 inches

2012 Update: As anyone in northern CT knows, we had a devastating snowstorm on Halloween weekend in 2011. With the leaves still on the trees, and the snow being the heavy/wet variety, tens of thousands of trees snapped. Here’s a video by some guy which is cool because he captures what it was like outside the night trees started snapping and transformers started blowing up.

But we survived, wholly intact. Many of our historic and champion trees did not. And that bums me out. According to a Hartford Courant article from April 8th, 2012, this black oak only had minor damage and should be fine.

Phew.

…………………………………..

black-oakI know there are many kinds of oaks in the world, but I find it rather remarkable that we have two national champion oaks here in li’l ol’ Connecticut. Crazier yet, the national champion bear oak over in Windsor is a mere 10 minute drive away! I’m curious if there are two other national champs so closely situation anywhere in these United States.

Of course, there are two others down in southern Connecticut in Madison and Old Saybrook that are maybe 12 minutes apart… My head spins. Any dendro-geo-nerds out there want to sort this all out for me? Because I don’t really have the time nor inclination as I’ve got to try to capture in words the majesty of standing next to the largest black oak in the entire country.

Want to know something stupid? Black oaks are just as commonly refered to as yellow oaks. Go figure.

Officially, this bad boy is on private property in East Granby. Armed with the address and slightly confusing directions, I went off in search of it once before during lunch. I passed this tree a couple times and absolutely knew that this indeed was the oak in question, but again, the directions were so vague I couldn’t be positive. Fortunately, in the interim, the wonderful gentlemen from Conn College who check up on our champions and champion the champions recently snapped a picture of this tree and confirmed my suspicions.

I was right, but now I had a sunny Sunday afternoon and a wife urging me to come up with a way to occupy Damian for a couple hours before we all went mad. Hm, okay… I took Damian to see the largest serviceberry tree in the country yesterday, I can’t really imagine that the child would want to do anything other than see another majestic tree today! (Don’t fret – we made a few other stops and side trips besides the tree. Including Hoang’s first tour of The Southwick Jog which is right up the road from this grand tree.)

You may also be interested to know that the tree I (and others) have deemed “the Coolest Tree” in Connecticut is also in nearby Granby (CTMQ Visit here).

black-oak2After a pleasant drive north from our home, we crept slowly along the road which passes within 15 feet of the mighty oak. It’s a somewhat oddly shaped tree, with a mammoth bulbous trunk which does not maintain its girth very far up its 79 feet. In fact, after passing several beautiful giant sycamores (including the Pinchot Sycamore, Connecticut’s largest tree) to get here, it wasn’t as awe-inspiring as I’d hoped.

But as I put the car in park and walked over to the massive survivor, I changed my tune. You can tell that this thing has been pushed, pruned and prodded over the years. I’m not sure this land was ever good farmland, but there are only a few large trees in the vicinity. At some point, during a land-clear maybe 150 years ago, someone had the great idea to save this one. (And really, that’s pretty much how all national champion trees came to be champs.)

I don’t know why and I’m not sure anyone else knows why either. Maybe they thought its burled trunk looked cool or maybe it just happened to conveniently mark a boundary. Whatever… I love it. And I touched it. And touched it again.

Black oak information
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4 responses to “Black Oak, East Granby”

  1. Tom says:

    I might possibly have a little geo-cred but definitely not any dendro. If ever you decide to plots these trees on a Google Map, please let me know!

  2. Don says:

    The family and I drove by and saw this one this past Saturday. Note, the white mailbox (which I was planning to be my confirming feature) is laying on the ground (perhaps snow plow damage).

    I found it interesting that the end of a long run of plastic tubing for maple sap collection from surrounding sugar maples was anchored to this tree with nails. You would think that you would show a little more respect to National Champion and do what ever you could to perserve its health and longevity.

  3. carlos says:

    where is the largest serviceberry tree in glastonbury?

  4. Steve says:

    While I LOVE that you care, it’s on private property so I’m not comfortable giving specifics. (Unless you can tell me exactly where the largest peach tree in Madison is, we’ll trade via email.)

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