A few months ago, I posted a picture on Wordless Wednesday and asked if anyone knew what it was. I didn't get any responses and I even went back to Dondero Orchards to ask them what it was. On the day I went back, however, no one was available to tell me what they thought it was.
A few days ago, my niece posted an article on Facebook about the American Chestnut, and I realized that my picture was of the American Chestnut.
I checked out a few articles and was fascinated to learn found that it almost became extinct because of disease. Exotic species were planted near New York City in the early 1900s. The blight that was imported with those trees quickly spread to the American Chestnuts. It is estimated that by 1940, 99.99% of the American Chestnut trees were destroyed--4 billion trees. Along with destroying the chestnuts themselves which fed all sorts of native animals, a major source of hardwood for building was lost as well. The American Chestnut is as durable as oak but grows 50% faster. As a result of the American Chestnut blight, an entire American Chestnut ecosystem was altered.
But some very dedicated people created blight-resistent grafts and reintroduced the graft to native regions all along the eastern part of the U.S. They hope to recreate the "redwoods of the east" as they were once known.
With the holiday season fast approaching, this makes for interesting reading because without the work of dedicated people we would never again see "chestnuts roasting on an open fire" or taste chestnut stuffing.
So now we know: It's the American Chestnut.
Comments(4)