Cotinus obovatus, American Smoketree Windham Height: 33 Feet Circumference: 150 inches Every now and then I get all jazzed up about our state's slate of National Champion trees. Ever since I discovered the Connecticut Notable Trees project database, I've been hooked. But also a little frustrated. I learned … [Read more...]
Hardy Orange, Stonington
Poncirus trifoliata, Hardy Orange Calvary Episcopal Church, Stonington Location: In back, near the church in the courtyard Height: 17 Feet Circumference: 48 inches I don’t go to church and I will never go to church, other than for weddings and funerals for people who have such things in churches. I am … [Read more...]
Texas Redbud, Windsor (RIP)
Cercis canadensis var. texensis, Texas Redbud Loomis Chaffee School, Windsor Location: In front of Erickson Gym Height: 22 Feet Circumference: 12 inches I love this page and I love you for coming here to read it. Unfortunately, Loomis-Chaffee dug up this tree and trashed it in 2018. This National Champion tree. … [Read more...]
Brush With Fame: Jim Calhoun
Jim Calhoun announced his retirement two days ago. 1:22 PM, I tweeted that I have a Calhoun story 1:23 PM, Rep-Am sportswriter Ed Daigneault tells me to write it down. I just did. 2:22 PM, I publish it for your enjoyment August 1990 I toured UConn’s Storrs campus in the late summer before my senior year of … [Read more...]
National Champion Huskies (2011)
2011 UConn Men’s Basketball Arrival of Champions Bradley Field, Windsor Locks For 38 years of life, my favorite two teams (by far) are the Philadelphia Eagles and Philadelphia Flyers. The Eagles have zero Super Bowls WON THE SUPERBOWL IN 2018!!! and while the Flyers have two Stanley Cups, I wasn’t old enough to … [Read more...]
Trinity College Squash
Squashing! A Day with the Trinity Squash Men's Team Hartford Simply put, squash is the worst name for a sport. Worse than ping-pong, worse than cricket and worse than cock-fighting. A squash is a vegetable. To squash something is to smoosh it. Why in the world it’s also the name of a fast-paced enclosed racket … [Read more...]
#1 Yale Hockey Game
Boola, Boola, Boola, Boola, Boola, Boola! # 1 Yale vs. Union, New Haven December 4, 2010 2020 Update: I'm not going to change anything below, but please notice the year this was written above. In Connecticut it’s easy to think we have two collegiate sports teams: The UConn men’s and women’s basketball teams. … [Read more...]
National Champion: Downy Serviceberry (Former)
Amelanchier arborea, Downy Serviceberry Private Property, Glastonbury Location: In a nice big yard on a corner lot out near the road, so it’s not too creepy to check out Height: 34 Feet Circumference: 134 inches National Champion from January 2010 to January 2020 On a chilly mid-November Friday evening … [Read more...]
National Champion Black Oak
Quercus velutina, Black Oak Private Property, East Granby Location: It's not in a yard or anything, so if you really want to know... Height: 79 Feet Circumference: 344 inches I know there are many kinds of oaks in the world, but I find it rather remarkable that we have two national champion oaks … [Read more...]
Paper Birch, Hartford (RIP)
4. Betula papyrifera, Paper Birch Institute of Living, Hartford Location: Gone Height: 72 Feet Circumference: 169 inches 2012 Update: As anyone in northern CT knows, we had a devastating snowstorm on Halloween weekend in 2011. With the leaves still on the trees, and the snow being the heavy/wet variety, tens of … [Read more...]