Farewell to 2020-- Our Cypress Elders Have Survived!

Despite the challenges of the past year, the several  LPCL "Alive in 1803" cypress that we’ve identified in the past year have reminded us that these majestic trees have survived lightning strikes, wind storms , and related natural calamities through the centuries—and thanks to the stewardship of so many that have participated in our efforts to landmark Louisiana’s enduring ancient cypress, it is likely that they will survive for many years to come.

Recently Landmarked cypress in 2020

Details in an upcoming January 2021 blog post

Oldest known cypress in Livingston Parish discovered and landmarked

                    Oldest cypress identified in East Baton Rouge Parish (replacing Highland Drive Cypress)

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LA.  Purchase Cypress Legacy visits Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge

Louisiana Purchase Cypress Legacy campaign paid a long overdue visit in November to the Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge in West Feliciana Parish, site of what is considered the largest cypress in the US. This cypress was awarded the very first LPCL plaque when the LPCL campaign started in 2003. During dry spells, we highly recommend visiting the several dozen trees in the immediate vicinity of the champion tree—very easy to walk to and almost as impressive in size as the “champ”.

Considered largest cypress in US-- 83 feet tall, 54 feet in circumference, "estimated to be 1000 years old

Description of "champion" cypress shown above

                                                    Cypress in vicinity of Cat Island Champ

This Cat Island giant may appear to be dead in this photo, but the video below shows otherwise

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Future trees to inventory

Many LPCL supporters  and old cypress "scouts.
, including property owners , are awaiting visits to cypress that  have yet to be inventoried and landmarked. A few photos of these trees are listed below

Krotz Spring vicinity

Jefferson Davis Parish

Hardwater Lake, Webster Parish

Hardwater Lake

Union Parish

Tensas National Wildlife Refuge

White River, Southern Arkansas (Part of original Louisiana Purchase)

Tangipahoa Parish

Concordia Parish

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La Purchase Cypress Legacy Now a 501C-3 Organization

The LPCL is proud to announce it has received 501 C-3 status. Until the blog site is set up to receive donations, please email Harvey Stern at LaPurchaseCypressLegacy@gmail.com for donation information.. Donations will help us continue identifying, landmarking and promoting the stewardship of old growth cypress in Louisiana. In particular, donations will help fund the LPCL “Alive in 1803” plaques found on many landmarked cypress throughout Louisiana.

                                              

   Oldest Known Cypress in East Baton Rouge Parish Identified

Although heavily urbanized, patches of East Baton Rouge  Parish contain remnants of Louisiana's natural heritage. This includes Bayou Fountain, included in the Atchafalaya Water Heritage Trail   --the likely nursing ground for the grand old cypress recently landmarked by the Louisiana Purchase Cypress Legacy. According to the Bayou Fountain Historical Marker,

 "Bayou Fountain was once connected to the Mississippi River when springtime flooding flowed over the natural levees just below downtown Baton Rouge, entering the swamps to the east of the river."  Likely dating back to late 18th century, this Baton Rouge cypress  thrived in its early years , probably from the nutrients in the ebb and flow from this ancient Mississippi River distributary. Although the cypress is now located in the rear yard of a residence on Highland Rd in Baton Rouge, its long ago connection to Fountain Bayou likely helped germinate the fine old specimen seen in the photos below.

Ancient Cypress Landmarked in St. James Parish

 The Louisiana Purchase Cypress legacy campaign is pleased to announce that a truly ancient cypress has been landmarked with LPCL Plaque #71 ("Alive in 1803") along the Blind River in St. James Parish. This tree is among the  oldest identified in our state-wide effort to identify the largest/oldest  cypress in each Parish.

Tree is right of center

Here are the details:

Location: 30 06.120N   90 43.625W, about a ten minute paddle upstream from the Hwy 61 boat launch on the blind river. Tree is located in the State’s Maurepas Wildlife  Management Area

in divi

Circumference: 14’3”,  Diameter:  4’ 6”

Ist boring : 3 inches--  approximately 120 rings  counted

            3 (inch boring) / 27 (inch radius) = 120 (rings counted) / x (projected rings)

            x = 1080 projected rings

2^nd boring:  2.5 inches—approximately 104 rings counted

            2.5/ 27 = 104 / x

            x = 1123 projected rings

 

Closely spaced rings (lines on boring) indicate very slow growth

To account for the likely faster growth rate during the tree’s early years (not evident in the boring samples, which are from the outer section of the trunk) the projected age is considrably less than counted rings would indicate.

Projected age of this tree is conservatively estimated at 850+ years.  

This venerable cypress and the many other grizzled old cypress in the vicinity of this one have survived countless lightning storms, hurricanes – and, yes, plagues and pandemics—a reminder that our irreplacable  natural heritage in Louisiana is resilient and life-affirming.