Notable Metro Area Trees

[Busguy2010]

I had a dream last night that I was in a grove of very large cottonwood trees. In real life I've been to sequoia national park and have seen the biggest trees in the world. In the dream I thought wow, I never knew Nebraska had such large trees!

When I woke up, a quick search yielded this site https://nfs.unl.edu/ And they actually keep track of the biggest tree of each species that grows here. The largest cottonwood in the nation that's been documented is somewhere 10 miles northeast of Beatrice.

My question to you all is do you know of or see any notable trees in your daily activities? Criteria could be the biggest, best specimen, prettiest, etc.

I can't confirm if still there, but there was a very large cottonwood up on Hartman Ave just east of 60th. Then I know there's that champion burr oak in Elmwood park. That's all I can really think of.

[ChadJK]

There's a gorgeous oak tree in Bellevue Cemetery. I'm not sure of the exact variety.

[nebugeater]

There's a gorgeous oak tree in Bellevue Cemetery. I'm not sure of the exact variety.

I'm pretty sure it is the wooden variety! ;)

[Cermak]

There’s a very large Oak Tree on the south side of Hawthorne Ave which is a block north of Bemis park. It even has a sign on it showing the approx years old. Worth checking out if you’re in the area. Also it’s not in the metro but Lewis and Clark State park near Onawa Iowa has some very large Cottonwood trees , some of the largest I’ve seen anywhere.

[ChadJK]

Also it’s not in the metro but Lewis and Clark State park near Onawa Iowa has some very large Cottonwood trees , some of the largest I’ve seen anywhere.

IIRC, this site of historic Fort Kearny (the city is spelled Kearney, but the fort is spelled Kearny) had several huge Cottonwoods. They used to line the parade ground of the fort. Some have died and lay there (they're not a particularly long-lived tree), but a few are still alive, or at least they were when I visited back in like 2004.

[Louie]

Also it’s not in the metro but Lewis and Clark State park near Onawa Iowa has some very large Cottonwood trees , some of the largest I’ve seen anywhere.

IIRC, this site of historic Fort Kearny (the city is spelled Kearney, but the fort is spelled Kearny) had several huge Cottonwoods. They used to line the parade ground of the fort. Some have died and lay there (they're not a particularly long-lived tree), but a few are still alive, or at least they were when I visited back in like 2004.

Yeah Cottonwoods are a bit fragile, too.

[Busguy2010]

There’s a very large Oak Tree on the south side of Hawthorne Ave which is a block north of Bemis park. It even has a sign on it showing the approx years old. Worth checking out if you’re in the area.

Speaking of Bemis Park, I love how that street is lined with sycamores right up against the street. Combined with the Big old houses, it makes for a really spooky ambiance around Halloween. Don't think I'd want to live there though. Sycamore's leaves are a terrible headache all throughout fall and into winter. You never really get them totally cleaned up til the spring thaw.