A Great Tree grows in Greece Fred Fleming, an 80-something youngster, remembers playing in his grandfather’s big red oak tree when he was a mere 12-year old. Fleming still lives in his family’s 1872 farmhouse on Latta Road in Greece. It was a big tree then. It’s even bigger now. So big, in fact, that American Forests’ National Registry of Big Trees lists it as a champion - the biggest (and probably the oldest) northern red oak tree in America. Vinnie List of Kendall, an old friend of Fleming’s, brought the tree to this writer's attention after reading the Great Trees article in the January 21 edition. Fleming’s family sold the land where the tree grows a long time ago, back when four-acres was worth $400. Since then, the area has changed from farmland into a densely-developed suburban residential area. The tree currently grows in the backyard of Greece homeowner, Donald Dinero, who has copies of documents submitted when it was first nominated for champion status by the DEC. He also has a framed certificate from American Forests citing its champion status, photographs used in a calendar by Davey Tree Expert Company and photos taken by Richard Margolis, a nationally-known photographer, for a gallery exhibit titled Rochester’s Big Trees. In 1987, the tree measured 364-inches (30-ft.) in circumference, 66-feet tall, with an 89-foot spread. Using a rating system used to judge candidates for champion tree designation, this tree scored 452 points. It won the contest for biggest tree of its species and was dubbed ‘national champion.’ Since being designated national champion in 1987, the tree has grown an additional 41-inches around and 10.5 inches in diameter. Its dimensions were again submitted in 2001 to American Forests. The National Registry awarded it 511 points based on the current measurements: 405-inches in circumference, 80-feet tall, and a 102-foot spread. Although embargoed until its official publication date of April 3, the Suburban News and Hamlin Clarkson Herald has learned that the National Registry of Big Trees will again list the Fleming-Deniro northern red oak as the largest of the species in America. To learn more about the National Registry of Big Trees log on to www.americanforests.org Rochester photographer Richard Margolis has documented some other of Rochester’s Big Trees: www.richardmargolis.com |
