E-Tenn. grove added to registry of landmark trees

By The Associated Press

MARYVILLE (AP) — A grove of trees in East Tennessee is getting some special attention.

The Knoxville News Sentinel reports the trees in Blount County are set to be added to the Tennessee Urban Forestry Council’s Tennessee Landmark and Historic Tree Registry in October. The four eastern red cedars, one bald cypress and two ginkgo trees are being listed as landmark trees, joining nine other designees from around the state.

The grove has stood on the lawn of the Harmony Family Center at Montvale for more than 150 years, according to the registry application.

“They’re very unusual for this part of the country,” said Gersom Gonzalez, maintenance director for the site. “They’ve been around for a long time. Ginkgos especially are difficult to grow this old, really an amazing thing to have them survive this round. The bald cypress as well is not usually a tree found in this part of the country, more down toward Louisiana and that kind of terrain.”

The registry recognizes trees or groves if they have some significance or history in the community or the state.

According to the registry application, Asa Watson planted the grove in 1857 as a way to share his passion for traveling.

“Actually throughout the property there are a lot of trees that he has collected from his travels around the world,” Gonzalez said. “He would plant them in different areas of the camp for people’s enjoyment.”

Other trees or groves designated as landmarks are located in McMinnville, Gallaway, Knoxville, Putnam County, Norris, Memphis, Jacksboro, Montgomery County and Johnson County.