ENTS,

With Kouta's spruce trees in mind and the recent discussions on boreal forests I set out yesterday and today to the best sites I know for Norway Spruce. Biltmore has bigger ones but I can't get in for free there. Yesterday I visited the VA Hospital in Oteen NC and today GE Lighting Systems in East Flat Rock NC. Around a year ago I visited the VA and measured some girths there since I did not have a laser and clinometer at that time. They have a decent collection of Norway Spruce, Oak, White & Shortleaf Pine and Holly. Yesterday, the two tallest Norways I measured were both 104 feet tall. Both planted side by side. How often do you find two trees the same height in one outing? They are located on the other side of Riceville Rd between two large houses across from the VA. The largest girthed Norway Spruce is 11' 7" cbh but it is off a bit. The tree is so encrusted in English Ivy and Poison Ivy vines that measuring it is difficult. But still it is quite  fat. It is only 88.5 feet tall. Will id'ed a Colorado Blue Spruce for me after I sent him the photo.

VA Trees                  CBH        Height

Norway Spruce                       104.0'
Norway Spruce                       104.0'
Norway Spruce                       89.9'
Norway Spruce                       87.6'
Norway Spruce                       91.1'
Norway Spruce     11' 7"          88.5'

White Oak           15' 11 3/4"   88.6'
Blue Spruce                           51.2'
White Pine          9' 5 1/2"       99.3'         

There is a bamboo ( Cane ) patch on the VA property. Has anyone in ENTS ever measured how tall bamboo can get?  Also, check out that strange sequoia that I photographed!

http://www.nativetreesociety.org/fieldtrips/north_carolina/va_hospita...

I noticed some time back that GE Lighting Systems, where I work has a fair number of Norway Spruce on their property. One of which I walk by every workday coming and leaving. Today I went to measure some of them. The plant was constructed back in 1955 and the trees probably date to then. Ironically the sizes are comparable to the VA trees. The VA Hospital was built nearly a hundred years ago but has been re-built since then. The spruces may date to then, maybe also in the 1950s. The tallest spruces at GE are between the warehouse and GEEA building in a small grove mixed with White Pine, Tuliptree and Eastern Hemlock. The hemlock is highly infested with adelgid and does not have long to live. I know GELS is too damn cheap to treat the trees, even if notified about them. One decent sized white pine has been topped by a storm sometime a while back. Some of the hemlocks are close to 100 feet tall.

GE Lighting Systems CBH            Height

Norway Spruce          5' 8"            82.2'
Norway Spruce          6' 4 1/4"      90.1'
Norway Spruce          8' 2"            81.7'
Norway Spruce         7' 4"             62.7'
Norway Spruce         6' 8"            103.3'
Norway Spruce        6' 5 1/2"        94.7'   Splits into 2 trunks about 18 feet up.
Norway Spruce          8' 8"             Under 100 feet. Splits into 3 trunks about 15 feet up.
Oak                          7' 10"           69.6'
White Pine                9' 2"            Under 100 feet. Broken top.

Work is one place that I don't expect to measure trees. It's better than what I usually do there!

http://www.nativetreesociety.org/fieldtrips/north_carolina/large_ge_s...

I stopped and measured another Norway that has a perfect growth form on my way from GE to McDonalds. It is on Upward Rd near a welding place.  All the photos are from the VA since GE discourages cameras on their premises.  Afterwards I went to McDonald's and did the math while I ate.

James Parton

	Bamboo