Bulloch Hall, Roswell, GA

[eliahd24]

During this fantastic spurt of spring-like weather I had a chance to visit the grounds and forested areas at Bulloch Hall in Roswell, GA.  Jess Riddle told me about this spot and the current state champion Bigleaf Magnolia is one he found on site about 10 years ago.  I was on a mission to find said tree along with a large tuliptree Jess mentioned as well.  Turns out I found both (I think) and a good bit more as well.  

Here's a rundown of the superlative trees, starting with the Bigleaf Magnolia's (Magnolia macrophylla).  This is the finest stands of Bigleaf I've ever seen!  Beech sized Bigleaf's everywhere!

Magnolia macrophylla on N/NW side of creek (Roswell Baptist Church property?):
CBH: 2' 7.5" (one of 3 tight trunks)
       3' 1" (one of 2 trunks)
       3' 2"
       3' 4.5"
       3' 5.5" (largest of 4 trunks!) x 78' tall
       3' 7" (splits to 3 trunks)
       3' 8" @ 3' above grade (splits to 2 leaders)
       3' 11" x 82.6' tall
       4' 7" x 91.2' tall x 39' avg. spread - (!) - State Champion from 2001?, if not, it's a new champion; also first documented over 90' (?)

Magnolia Macrophylla on Bulloch Hall (S/SE) side of creek
CBH: 3' 1.5" (rotten side trunk)
       4' 2.5" (two other trunks: 3' 5.25" and 2' 9.25") x 83.9' tall (tree was 6' 6" below split, but clearly multi-trunked)
Bigleaf video:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AH4AczHmNnw[/youtube]


Other significant trees:
Carya tomentosa - 7' 4.5" x 111.4'
Cornus florida - 49.0' tall (!)
Pinus echinata - 6' 10" x 108.1'
Juglans nigra - 12' 5" x 95.7' x 91' spread
Quercus alba - 15' 7.5" CBH
Prunus serotina - 9' x 93.7' (two trunks)
Quercus falcata - 9' 3" x 105.7'
Quercus rubra - 9' 6.5" x 139.8' (!)
Juniperus virginiana - 81.7' tall (!)
Liriodendron tulipifera - 17' 5" x 114.1' (gnarly. old looking tree with large cave and resurrection fern)

Video of giant Tuliptree
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtNJ5QDBeLo[/youtube]

The bigleaf, n. red oak, and eastern redcedar are all the tallest I've measured in Georgia. The dogwood is second to a 56' specimen in Atlanta.
I will compare with other statewide data soon...

If any ENTS can confirm taller Bigleaf anywhere I'd love to know about it.  I highly recommend a visit to this old plantation and forest if you're in the Atlanta area!  It's one of the few spots where the open grown trees on the grounds (some dating back to the early 1800's homestead) are equally as impressive as the forest trees (or vice versa).  

...pix forthcoming as well...

~Eli
eli_dickerson@yahoo.com

[James Parton]

Eli,

That's a pretty damn awesome Red Cedar!

[Ranger Dan]

Love this report!  Thanks for making it easy for me to go and see this place myself!  Looking forward to those additional shots, too.

Ranger Dan

[eliahd24]

Dan- if you or anyone else plan to visit the Atlanta area I could give you a shortlist (or long list) of amazing greenspaces with numerous champion trees.  Many of these spots I found out about from other people, so I'm always happy to share these "secrets".

[Ranger Dan]

That would be great, Eli.  I thought the Atlanta area was beautiful when I saw it.  Fernbank...is that the name of a preserve there with old growth?

Dan

[eliahd24]

That's it.  I'm very fortunate to work in that forest.  A great spot to visit- very little visitation.  Kind of a hidden gem.

[Tyler]

Eli,

Thanks for sharing this area with us. I've been wanting to learn more about bigleaf magnolia for a while.

Tyler

[Jess Riddle]

Eli,

The magnolia in the video looks like the old state champ.  It was only a little ways behind First Presbyterian Church and leaned quite a bit.  I had it at 4'3" x 80.2' back in 2001.  The herbs are interesting in that grove.  Bloodroot grows in exceptionally dense patches and there is some of the uncommon Collinsonia verticillata.

The red oak and red cedar are surprising, and impressive, new finds.

When I visited Rock Creek Natural Area in Kentucky with Neil Pederson, we measured a 99.4' tall M. macrophylla growing next to an overhang.

Jess

[eliahd24]

Wow- 99' is amazing!  That grove in Roswell is so neat.  The bloodroot was already blooming and I could barely take a step without crushing it.  Also the hepatica was still in full bloom- just gorgeous.  I was surprised to see the Bigleafs both on the shady and sunny sides of the slope.  Of course it will all be under canopy foliage by mid-Spring and I know this species is tolerant of shade.  I already want to visit again- maybe when they're in bloom.

The tree in the video is actually not the one I assumed as being the champ- it's on the other side of the creek.  There's so many big ones!  We could probably just say there are multiples state co-champions at any rate.