Frankfort TREE Coalition TREES!

This is a photo of the press conference of the beginning of the Frankfort TREE Coalition.  The event took place near this giant Burr Oak tree on the property of the Highland Christian Church off Versailles Road across from the Eastwood Shopping Center.  In the foreground the group is planting a young tree for the future.

These three trees are part of the many trees that have been submitted to the Frankfort TREE Coalition in their search to document historic large trees in Franklin County.  From L to R:  One of the Ginko trees of South Frankfort, this one located on the corner of Capital Ave and Second Street is very showy in the fall when the leaves all turn yellow; one of the historic Catalpa trees located at Liberty Hall on Wilkinson Blvd. was there before Liberty Hall was built; and this wonderful Burr Oak tree believed to be 300+ years old is located on a Douglas farm in Franklin County.

Jane Julian and her dog Ned are pictured here with her favorite Burr Oak tree located on Route 60 across from the Salato Wildlife Education Center.  The tree is believed to be more than 250 years old and has a circumference of 14'3".  This part of the Julian farm is protected with the help of the Kentucky State Nature Preserves.  Do you have a favorite tree?  It can be featured as a tree of the week by completing a census form online through the County Extension Office webpage at ces.ca.uky.edu/Franklin/tree or contact Betty Beshoar at (502) 227-2695 for additional information.

This Kentucky Coffee-tree, pictured here with land owner Connie May, is 14 inches in circumference and stands approximately 20 feet tall. Connie says it is her favorite tree because it was the first tree she planted on her land 10 years ago.  The tree is host to several caterpillars and butterflies and has a beautiful furrowed bark. Early settlers used the roasted seeds of the Ky. Coffee-tree as a coffee substitute.

The latest submission is this great Sycamore tree located on the 18th hole of Two Creek subdivision. (The following is the text submitted from the family that submitted these photos)  Fondly known as "Seaton's tree" around the house, this beautiful Sycamore has become a favorite destination for my 2 1/2 year old son to explore.  He loves to sit in the trees protruding roots and observe the habitat of the creek and occasionally-casts his "Sponge Bob" fishing pole in the flowing water.  If we are out on the golf cart, he always asks to ge see his tree! 

This 68 foot tall Chinquapin Oak lives near Louisville Road at the home of Donald Slattery. His 5 grandchildren Clay, Owen, and Max Woodson along with Samantha and Riley Slattery provide a group hug to the beloved family tree. Chinquapin Oaks are abundant in the Bluegrass area.

I don't know if this would qualify as a "favorite" tree for many golfers in the area. I don't know what kind it is; but I have heard it called many unprintable names. It stands directly in front of all golfers on the #1 tee at Juniper Hill Golf Course. It is a tough old girl as it withstands getting hit by thousands of golf balls each season.

Jim Beirne, President Juniper Hills Golf Association

This 30-40 year old sycamore lives on the Antenucci farm in northern Franklin County. Zoe and Emily enjoy swinging under its strong, wide branches. The tree offers shade to the nearby garden and bee yard during the summer and provides wonderful, large leaves to play with in the autumn.

Ida Palmer-Ball's favorite tree is a massive white oak, 8' 8" around and 80' tall, in the woods near her home off Devils Hollow Road.  She passes this beauty and friend on her daily walks and calls her "Mary". 

Ella, age 10, spends hours in her sugar maple tree climbing, reading, and watching the world.  She dreams of planting sugar maples all over her family's farm and harvesting maple syrup some day. Maples provide nectar for many pollinating insects in early spring. The flowers and seed pods provide food for numerous birds including the rose breasted grosbeak, bobwhite, goldfinch, chickadee and cardinal to name a few.

 This Catalpa Indian Cigar tree (c. Bignonioides) is located above the Capitol Annex parking lot. Jean Ann Myatt drives by the tree on her way to work and parks by it whenever she can. She loves the shape of the tree and thinks catalpas are best appreciated without leaves. Seeing the tree is a highlight to her day. Catalpa’s are native to alluvial forests of western Kentucky and display large clusters of white flowers in early summer. 

Dan and Kerry VanTreese stand beside their favorite redbud and a symphony of others on their farm off Oakland Branch Road in Northeast Franklin County.

Cercis canadensis L. (Eastern Redbud) is native to eastern North America. The flowers are pollinated by long tongued bees such as blueberry bees and carpenter bees. Green twigs have been used for seasoning wild game, earning it the name of spicewood tree.

Marilyn Morris loves her southern magnolia located in the back yard of her recently purchased home on East Forth Street in South Frankfort. She said she bought the tree and they threw the house in for free. She estimates the tree to be over 100 years old. Magnolia grandiflora commonly known as southern magnolia is a large striking evergreen tree with dark green leaves and large fragrant white flowers. It can produce seed by 10 years of age. Squirrels, opossums, quail, and turkey are known to eat the seeds.