Champion tree grows in town

#Middlebury

Peter North and his son Ben measure the Cucumber Magnolia in May 2020. Peter originally found and nominated the tree as a champion tree. He has been tracking its size ever since. (Marty Aligata photo)

By JANINE SULLIVAN-WILEY

During these days of staying at home or finding safe things to do outside, it’s nice to know there are so many Middlebury Land Trust (MLT) trails and properties open to the public. And the list of MLT properties continues to grow.

As of July 2020, the land trust has added the Moniot property to its holdings. Donated by siblings Meredeth and Paul Moniot, this almost nine-acre tract is on Breakneck Hill Road less than 100 feet away from the Artillery Road entrance to the path leading to the monument commemorating Rochambeau’s encampment here in Middlebury.

One corner of this new acquisition is home to a Connecticut Champion Tree – a Cucumber Magnolia (Magnolia acuminate) that was certified in November 2000 by the Connecticut Botanical Society to be 91 feet tall and 204 inches in circumference.

Remeasured in May of this year, it is a whopping 101 feet tall, and 229 inches in circumference. You can find it at the corner of Breakneck Hill Road and Artillery Road; there is a plaque near its base. If you’re a tree fancier, a number of other noteworthy trees on this property include a large weeping willow and a huge American Elm, both still alive and healthy, along with some large sugar maples and a tulip tree along the stone wall on the southern boundary on Breakneck Hill Road.

This property also is notable for its fine soils and wildlife habitat. An old field there provides dense early successional habitat for songbirds and species such as the New England Cottontail. That last may seem inconsequential but it’s not: this species is the only rabbit native to Connecticut and is listed as vulnerable, with a decreasing population due to loss of suitable habitat. The land trust keeps information like that as well as other geological and environmental details on all of its properties as part of its responsibility as an accredited land trust.

Meredeth said she and her brother decided to donate this parcel to the MLT for two reasons. One was the financial benefit to them (no more paying taxes on it.) The other was an old connection to the MLT; their late father had done volunteer work for the MLT as an accountant many years ago.

She said she liked that his name will be remembered through this donation. She recalled her father planting willows as well as other trees there; we can no doubt thank him for the trees we enjoy there now. It used to be more open, and a local farmer used the meadow for cows when they had new calves. In winter, people would sled on the hill there, and local folks would ice skate on the pond, now just a vernal pool.

In time, the MLT hopes to develop trails so people can more easily find the trees there, and perhaps to connect to the historical site across the way. Meanwhile it easily can be enjoyed from the road.

You can contact this writer at jswspotlight@gmail.com, visit the MLT on Facebook or the website at middleburylandtrust.org.