Cherrydale Branch Library
photo by Greg Embree
The library is located at:
2190 Military Rd (703) 228-6330
For information on Kids’ & Adult Programs, and library hours, visit:
www.CherrydaleLibrary.org
2190 Military Rd (703) 228-6330
For information on Kids’ & Adult Programs, and library hours, visit:
www.CherrydaleLibrary.org
Cherrydale Library's Chestnut Tree
See this summary of the history and condition of the magnificent tree at the Cherrydale Library, along with suggestions on how to preserve the heritage:
In Winter 2012, neighbors noticed erosion around the roots of this heritage tree, and organized to get funding or work crews to shore it up. We also got opinions from arborists, who concluded it is best to leave it alone. Here is the write-up from one of them, John Chestnut, evaluating the tree.
At the request of Marcia Bowlds, I inspected the specimen Chinese Chestnut tree growing in front of Cherrydale library. I am familiar with this tree from childhood when it was great sport to collect the fruits, and am generally familiar with Chestnuts (my surname, and my career as a forester/botanist in California and Oregon). I remember Italian immigrants (soapstone quarry workers from off Military Rd. ?) collecting the nuts from the Cherrydale tree in the fall). This tree has always been a remarkable part of Cherrydale history.
The tree has a swelling stem canker consistent with infection from Chestnut Blight on the east fork. Blight was introduced to North America in 1908, and quickly decimated all eastern American Chestnuts. Chinese Chesnuts are generally resistant (not immune) to the blight infection (as they coevolved in Asia).
The blight kills Chesnuts by releasing oxalic acid, which kills the living phloem cells (just under the bark). The loss of phloem cells and the cambium means the roots are isolated from the crown and cannot support the living leaves and growth. There is no cure for blight infection of Chestnuts. The visible infection of the tree appears restricted to the lowest 4 feet of the stem.
The blight infection of the Cherrydale tree is not complete, and the tree can be pruned to reduce risk and bring the crown into balance with the ability of the tree to still transport sugars. The Cherrydale tree is likely near the end of its natural lifespan.
Chinese Chestnuts are smaller stature, and less substantial trees than American Chesnuts. This tree may have been planted simultaneously with the great blight, and will be about 100 years old. This tree is much like a legacy apple tree in an ancient orchard, the Chinese Chestnuts were selected to small nut bearing crop trees through millenia of cultivation. [note: this specimen was seeded from a tree in front of the old Cherrydale School, in the memory of many neighbors]
I have been involved in community responses to the decline and loss of similar specimen trees in California. Let me make several suggestions:
1. Collect seeds from the tree and distribute them to community for planting. This can be done as a fund-raiser, or a small volunteer based propagation project can produce seedlings for sale. These community propagation projects build interest in history, urban forestry and the tree itself. It is hard to describe the pleasure and happiness these community-based propagation porjects bring to a neighborhood.
2. Prepare a replacement plan-- My personal preference would be to restore one of the newly developed blight-resistant American Chestnuts. The American Chestnut Foundation http://www.acf.org/ has back-crossed resistant cultivars and has links to researchers in Georgia and Maryland that have transgenic American Chestnuts with high blight resistance.
3. Contact a wood craftsman and develop a plan for using some of the tree's wood in an installation at the library. Chestnut wood is open grain, light, very oily and stable in dimensions. Historically it was used as barn wood where rot-resistance and warp resistance were prized. I have seen outdoor furniture, doors, and tables made from the wood. Craftmen collect and reuse Chestnut barnwood commonly, so the opportunity to work with the fresh wood may attract real attention.
John Chesnut
805-459-1050
In Winter 2012, neighbors noticed erosion around the roots of this heritage tree, and organized to get funding or work crews to shore it up. We also got opinions from arborists, who concluded it is best to leave it alone. Here is the write-up from one of them, John Chestnut, evaluating the tree.
At the request of Marcia Bowlds, I inspected the specimen Chinese Chestnut tree growing in front of Cherrydale library. I am familiar with this tree from childhood when it was great sport to collect the fruits, and am generally familiar with Chestnuts (my surname, and my career as a forester/botanist in California and Oregon). I remember Italian immigrants (soapstone quarry workers from off Military Rd. ?) collecting the nuts from the Cherrydale tree in the fall). This tree has always been a remarkable part of Cherrydale history.
The tree has a swelling stem canker consistent with infection from Chestnut Blight on the east fork. Blight was introduced to North America in 1908, and quickly decimated all eastern American Chestnuts. Chinese Chesnuts are generally resistant (not immune) to the blight infection (as they coevolved in Asia).
The blight kills Chesnuts by releasing oxalic acid, which kills the living phloem cells (just under the bark). The loss of phloem cells and the cambium means the roots are isolated from the crown and cannot support the living leaves and growth. There is no cure for blight infection of Chestnuts. The visible infection of the tree appears restricted to the lowest 4 feet of the stem.
The blight infection of the Cherrydale tree is not complete, and the tree can be pruned to reduce risk and bring the crown into balance with the ability of the tree to still transport sugars. The Cherrydale tree is likely near the end of its natural lifespan.
Chinese Chestnuts are smaller stature, and less substantial trees than American Chesnuts. This tree may have been planted simultaneously with the great blight, and will be about 100 years old. This tree is much like a legacy apple tree in an ancient orchard, the Chinese Chestnuts were selected to small nut bearing crop trees through millenia of cultivation. [note: this specimen was seeded from a tree in front of the old Cherrydale School, in the memory of many neighbors]
I have been involved in community responses to the decline and loss of similar specimen trees in California. Let me make several suggestions:
1. Collect seeds from the tree and distribute them to community for planting. This can be done as a fund-raiser, or a small volunteer based propagation project can produce seedlings for sale. These community propagation projects build interest in history, urban forestry and the tree itself. It is hard to describe the pleasure and happiness these community-based propagation porjects bring to a neighborhood.
2. Prepare a replacement plan-- My personal preference would be to restore one of the newly developed blight-resistant American Chestnuts. The American Chestnut Foundation http://www.acf.org/ has back-crossed resistant cultivars and has links to researchers in Georgia and Maryland that have transgenic American Chestnuts with high blight resistance.
3. Contact a wood craftsman and develop a plan for using some of the tree's wood in an installation at the library. Chestnut wood is open grain, light, very oily and stable in dimensions. Historically it was used as barn wood where rot-resistance and warp resistance were prized. I have seen outdoor furniture, doors, and tables made from the wood. Craftmen collect and reuse Chestnut barnwood commonly, so the opportunity to work with the fresh wood may attract real attention.
John Chesnut
805-459-1050