Say 'orchard' and 'apple' would be my response. Until last week. That's when I spent a couple of hours exploring two conifer seed orchards in southern Washington County. I didn't see any apples but did find an interesting variety of trees bearing cones rather than fruit.
One grove is located in Mt. Tom State Forest, accessed from Lincoln Hill Road and the other is in Chestnut Woods State Forest, accessed from Chestnut Hill Road. Both forests are in the Town of White Creek near the Vermont border southeast of the Village of Cambridge.
The orchards are used by DEC's Saratoga Tree Nursery for the production of seed from 'desirable' trees. At the Mt. Tom site there are Scotch Pine, European Larch, Jack Pine, Norway Spruce and Red Pine. At the Chestnut Woods location Norway Spruce and Japanese Larch predominate. The trees were planted in '60's, '70's and '80's in an 18' by 18' grid. Today, they are large, mature and densely clustered.
The Mt. Tom orchards are on the north side of Lincoln Hill Road where a rough dirt lane angles uphill. Look for a brown metal post that probably once had a sign but no longer does. Best to park here and walk because the lane is blocked by a fallen tree. As you wander up you'll see some scraggily Scotch Pine with its orange upper bark and 2"- 3" long needles in clusters of two. Continuing along an access road the next planting to your right is European Larch.
Beyond the Larch in what appears to be a gap filling in with weeds and brush you can see a few tall trees. These are Jack Pine and while I didn't venture into the brambles I only counted about a dozen individuals. Finally the path you are following enters a crowded stand of Norway Spruce. Here the ground is littered with cones. One last group of conifers can be seen by walking to the left up thru an open hardwood forest towards a ridgeline where there is a cluster of Red Pine.
They may do a little bush-hogging but the orchard seems to get little maintenance. Hardwood trees are invading the conifer orchard along with native White Pine. The Norway Spruce and European Larch seem to be doing OK but the Scotch and Jack Pine not so great. While there, look for an interesting 'lane' created by two parallel stone walls to the left of the spruces, apparently a relic of livestock grazing from times gone by.
To see the stands in Chestnut Woods State Forest drive east on Lincoln Hill Road to a four way intersection, turning left onto Chestnut Hill Road. Soon you will see a sign for Chestnut Woods State Forest but this is not where you want to go. Continue driving up thru a scenic notch, then downhill until there's a woods road on the right just before the entrance to Pompanuck Farm. This road is where you want to go but don't try driving up it. I did but you are smarter than me. It's just barely passable with a hi-clearance 4x4 that you don't care much about. It's a death wish for other vehicles. Best to find a place to park off the side of the town road and walk up the woods road.
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As you ascend the Right of Way look for a yurt off to the left (apparently part of Pompanuck) and then a cleared pull-off a little further. This is as far as I drove. I believe this is the boundary of the state forest. The plantations begin here. They seem entirely unmanaged, almost a part of the natural forest. I remember Norway Spruce on the left and Japanese Larch to the right, but there were other conifers mixed in as well. After a short walk I came to a clearing that seems to be mowed and kept open. It's a scenic spot with a variety of trees, both evergreen and deciduous, around the edges. Since it was late in the day I didn't continue further or examine the orchards but this could be an interesting area to explore. From the upper clearing the Vermont border is less than a mile to the east but it might be a tough mile since there is a high ridge in between.
Finally...
* Conifers are cone bearing seed plants. Most are trees but a few are woody shrubs. They are economically important for softwood lumber, for use in paper making and as landscape plantings. Chances are you have some around your house. They predominate in northern latitudes and at high elevations.
* Larches, aka tamaracks, are deciduous conifers that drop their needles in the fall and grow new ones in spring. The needles are in clusters on warty knobs close to the branch. They are a beautiful pale green color when first emerging this time of year. The two species in the orchards are introduced Japanese Larch (Larix kaempfori) and European Larch (Larix decidua). Both favor upland habitat. There is also a native American Larch (Larix laricina) more adapted to wetlands. Locally, do you think Argyle's Tamarack Swamp might be a good place to look for those?
* For more on the Saratoga Tree Nursery go here.
* If all this 'orcharding' leaves you with an appetite you might want to stop at the Round House Bakery at Pompanuck on Chestnut Hill Road. Here's a link.
* I want to thank NYS DEC foresters Ben Thomas and Rebecca Terry of the Warrensburg office for help with this post.
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