Amelanchier arborea, Downy Serviceberry Private Property, Glastonbury Location: In a nice big yard on a corner lot out near the road, so it’s not too creepy to check out Height: 34 Feet Circumference: 134 inches National Champion from January 2010 to January 2020 On a chilly mid-November Friday evening … [Read more...]
National Champion Black Oak
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 I know there are many kinds of oaks in the world, but I find it rather remarkable that we have two national champion oaks … [Read more...]
(Former) National Champion: Paper Birch
4. Betula papyrifera, Paper Birch Institute of Living, Hartford Location: Gone Height: 72 Feet Circumference: 169 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 … [Read more...]
Bear Oak, Windsor
Quercus ilicifolia, Bear Oak Northwest Park, Windsor Location: North side of driveway in front of the private park manager’s white house. Height: 32 Feet Circumference: 62 inches I love this page and I love you for coming here to read it. Unfortunately, this tree is no longer a national champion in 2018. … [Read more...]
Elizabeth Park Gardens
‘Lizbeth?! I’m Comin! This the Big One! Elizabeth Park Tour, Hartford/West Hartford June 5, 2010 I finally did something on an impossibly hot day that everyone in the Hartford area should do at least once: Took the History Tour of Elizabeth Park. You’ve all been there. You’ve toured the rose garden and walked … [Read more...]
National Champion Trees of CT
Trees, Glorious Trees! National Champion Trees of Connecticut Go straight to the National Champions I first put this page together in 2010 and since then I've learned a lot about this National Champion tree thing works. The lists are constantly in flux. Tree lovers from all over the country never stop measuring … [Read more...]
Connecticut’s Historic Gardens
My Lists Keep Growing Connecticut Historic Gardens I like the idea behind this initiative. I like gardens and I like history so I must really like historical gardens. 13 of the current 15 gardens are at museums, so I’ll get to them by default. Although, I’ve run into an issue with this… I’ve been to two in the … [Read more...]
Animals, Farms, Gardens, Plants, Trees, Dinosaurs, Fossils, Rocks, Waterfalls, & Caves
Biology, Paleontology, and Geology This is a big page with lots of stuff. Outdoor stuff. You won't find nature or Audubon centers here, as they are on the massive museums list. I'll let you sort out whatever else you're looking for. Animals (Aquaria, Zoos, Hatcheries, Wild & Weird Animals) Farms Worth … [Read more...]
Jericho Trail
The Walls and Caves of Jericho Watertown, 3.4 miles (one way) May 18, 2009 I don't know how or why this trail got the name "Jericho," but I'm sure it goes back a ways in our history... The area probably named by the Puritan Colonials. For as you know, the city of Jericho is described in the Hebrew Bible as the … [Read more...]
UConn Greenhouses
Biology: The Study of Life... And What is More Important Than LIFE?! UConn Storrs (Google Maps Location) February 25, 2009 Ahhhh, home. Like the plants on view, I was rooted in this very building for four years. The smells... The sights... It was nice to be back "home." Yes folks, I hold a biology degree from … [Read more...]