Maggie's Farm

The majestic American Chestnut, like the Elm, died off to various blights in the past century. You can still see the slowly decaying rust-colored Chestnut carcasses on woodland hikes.

The Chestnut was one of the basic trees of the northern USA climax forest, along with oak, beech, maple, walnut. Lots of good eats for wildlife.

When you buy those delicious roasted chestnuts on NYC streets, they are imported European chestnuts. A different, but related, species.  I have planted a few Asian Chestnut hybrids, but man do they grow slowly. As they say, the best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago.

A handful of American Chestnuts have escaped the blight thus far. In Cape Cod. 

The good news for Americans of the future:  How GMOs Might Save The American Chestnut Tree