Efforts to restore the original landscape of George Washington's Virginia home at Mount Vernon have found new help through a major reforestation project using America's Champion Trees. The grounds of the historic site, located down the Potomac River from Washington, DC have suffered in recent years from a startling lack of new forest growth. In fact, Washington himself, expressed concerns about how easily forests can disappear. But the future of the Mount Vernon estate will now be assured, thanks to a new, ten-year project that will adhere to the landscaping vision established by our first president for his beloved home.

Colonial Champion Washington Sycamores "The known in the United States were the Washington Sycamores on Three Brother Island. When he visited the Ohio Valley in 1771, George Washington was amazed at their size, and estimated in his diary that one of the group was 61 feet in circumference." West Virginia A Guide to the Mountain State ©1941 Oxford University Press

The Mount Vernon Special Collection of Champion Trees will be established beginning in the fall of 2001, as dozens of species that Washington personally selected for his estate will be planted over two hundred acres. Champion trees are the largest, and often the oldest, living examples of each tree species. The Mount Vernon Special Collection of Champion Trees will be exact, genetic duplicates, or clones, of these national champions. The project stems from a partnership between the Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens, the Champion Tree Project, and the National Tree Trust, with consulting expertise from the Arnold Arboretum at Harvard University.

National Champion White Ash Palisades, New York height: 95 feet — girth: 25.3 feet crown spread: 82 feet

Mount Vernon's mansion, landscape and forests are beautiful and admired by more than a million each year, but there is a serious problem that few recognize. Under the canopy of beautiful, mature trees there are no young trees or seedlings. Grazing by deer has been the major reason for the loss of new growth. "As these new champion trees mature, the reforestation initiative will secure the future of the Mount Vernon forests as Washington admired them in the 18th century," explains Dean Norton, Director of Horticulture, of Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens.

Dean Norton, George Cates and David Milarch June 2001 under a White Ash planted by George Washington
Dean Norton Horticulture Director Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens 703-799-8661 Terry Mock Executive Director Champion Tree Project 561-436-1636 David Milarch President Champion Tree Project 231-378-2172

The first ChampTree™ species, scheduled to be planted this fall, is a genetic duplicate of the National Champion White Ash, found in Palisades, New York. Washington specifically chose the White Ash to provide shade for the walkways along the sweeping lawn at the front of the mansion, an area known as the Bowling Green.

"We will be providing ChampTrees™ of species noted in the historical record and diaries," says David Milarch, Co-Founder of the Champion Tree Project. "Our goal is to use George Washington's own notes as a guide to ensure that his original intent remains at the core of the reforestation efforts."

The Champion Tree Project has been cloning the nation's Champion Trees since 1996. Major funding for the initiative is being provided by the National Tree Trust, a national, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting volunteerism through tree planting and maintenance.

TERRA: Champion Trees and Ancient Forests - www.championtrees.org - updated: 8/1/2001