Tough American chestnut sprouts on the western edge of their
range in southwestern Tennessee and northern Mississippi
(Photos and captions by Joe Schibig unless otherwise indicated, Aug. 2007)
 

David Smith discovers the westernmost population
of American chestnuts known to us in Fayette Co., TN.

From the left, Rick, David, Marvin, and Bill stand by the largest
chestnut known in Fayette County, TN.  It measures 3 inches dbh
and stands 35 ft tall.  This tree was one of five on Marvin's property
which, to our knowledge, are the farthest west of any American
chestnut population in TN or KY.  See map below.

From the left, Joe Schibig and Larry Smith stand by a chestnut on
a slope overlooking Baker's Pond in Benton County (northern Mississippi).
Larry, former head of the Wolf River Conservancy, was instrumental in
the development of the Baker's Pond hiking trail and has been a leader in
protecting the watershed areas of the Wolf River.  Baker's Pond is  a cold,
 spring fed pond which is the beginning point for the Wolf River.
(Photo taken by Rick Schibig)
 

Larry stands by an old chestnut stump overlooking Baker's Pond.
 

Muscadine grape is the primary ground cover in the oak-hickory forest
around Baker's Pond.  Here it is climbing over a chestnut sprout.

A large old Sparkleberry shrub with Baker's Pond in the background

Ferns carpet the forest floor on the low moist sites near Baker's Pond.
The chestnuts require better drainage and may be found  upslope from
the more mesic, flat bottomland areas.

This chestnut shows signs of dieback due to the late spring frosts
in the region.  This coupled with the prolonged drought and heat
(over 105 degrees F. on the day this photo was taken) has stressed the
  trees around Baker's Pond as well as the investigating field biologist.

Big chestnut trees once lived in the upland forests of northern Mississippi.
 

Old chestnut stump with lichens and a muscadine grape vine.

Baker's Pond with alder in the foreground.
 

The sandy soil of this area has a purplish tint.
 

Larry  looking at Baker's Pond
 

The house symbols designate the westernmost chestnut populations
observed by Joe Schibig in western Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee.

Please visit the TN Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation
and
 Resurrecting the American Chestnut