SELF-GUIDED TOUR OF
OLD NORFOLK'S GREAT TREES

1. American/Sweet Chestnut (Castanea Dentata) - There are several small American Chestnut Trees around the Backus Woods parking lot just south of Highway #24.  Historically this species was one of the dominant trees on the Norfolk Sand Plain, greatly prized for its nuts and wood.
2. Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) - North of hwy #24 approx. 1.5 km east of the junction of Reg.Rd. #58 on Water St. south, there is a spectacular row of large old Sugar Maples.  This group of approx. 24 trees was obviously planted and gives a snap-shot of what some of roadsides can look like.
3a. Black Oak (Quercus velutina) - At the entrance to the Evergreen Cemetery in Lynedoch (west of the river on tip of the hill to the south) is a fine example of Black Oak.  Inside the cemetery there is a row of large old White Oak, Red Oak and Black Oak, giving a good opportunity to compare the different species.  A further walk will reveal large Sugar Maples and White Pines.
3b. In the southeast corner of the Memorial Park in downtown Delhi is a good example of a large Black Oak.  With a short walk around the park fine examples of White Oak, White Pine and Kentucky Coffee (n/w corner) can also be located.
4a. Black Walnut (Juglans nigra) - On the western boundary of the village of Lynedoch, on the south side of Reg. Rd. #21, is a good example of a Black Walnut.  (NOTE:   this open grown yard tree is on private property and should be viewed from the road.)
4b. In the hamlet of Pt.Ryerse is a large Black Walnut tree with some history.  As the story goes this tree was planted by Col. Samuel Ryerse, the founder of the community.  The tree is located on the north bank of Young's Creek just before the lower bridge as you make your way down to the dock.   (NOTE:  this tree is on private property and should be viewed from the road.)
5. Kentucky Coffee Tree (Gynmocladus dioicus) - The largest example of this species in Ontario is found across from 413 West St., Simcoe, between the parking lots of the West St. Apts.  The tree measures 24.8 metres high with a diameter of 100 cm.
5b. At the St. Williams Forestry Stn there are 2 examples of Kentucky Coffee Tree.  One is found just to the west of the headquarters of the Long Point Bird Observatory (old superintendent's house) and the 2nd is located on the west side of the large gravel parking lot in front of the nursery office.
Pawpaw (Asimina triloba) - To the east of the front door of the Long Point Bird Observatory's office at the St.Williams Forestry Stn is one of the few examples of Pawpaw in this area.   This species is typically short-lived and more often found as a shrub in flood plain locations.
6. English White Oak - Royal Oak Tree (Quercus eobur) - This tree is found on the north side Front Road to the east of Port Rowan 0.6 km from the intersection of Main street.  A plaque found beside the tree relates the following story:
"This tree was grown from an acorn planted by Mrs. Bessie (Moore) PRETTY.  The acorn came from a tree at Windsor Castle in England.   Acorns from this tree were distributed to Canadian schools to commemorate the visit to Canada by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in 1939."
7. Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) - In the Port Dover Company Cemetery found on the n/w corner of the Blue Line Rd and Highway #6 (4.5 km e of hwy #24) are 4 large Sweetgum trees.  These specimens are located on the w end of the centre service road.  Normally found further south in the USA these 4 were planted and one of them is the Ontario Honour Roll Tree.  Other trees of interest in the cemetery are White Mulberry, Eastern Red Cedar, Austrian Pine and some very large Norway Spruce.
Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) - Backus Woods contains one of the best stands of Tulip Trees in the area.
8. Cucumber Magnolia (Magnolia acuminata) - Smith Tract, an area owned and managed by the Long Point Region Conservation Authority has one of the greatest concentrations of Cucumber Magnolia in Canada.  This species is the only tree in Ontario that is legally recognized as Endangered.   Going north from Hwy #24 on the Forestville Rd for 2-1/2 concessions, the Smith Tract is on the west side of the road and is marked with a sign.  There is one roadside tree on the property line with an adjacent property on the s/e corner of the property.
9. Osage Orange (Maclura pomifera) - Found at the corner of Mill St. and Prospect St. on the north-side of the road beside a fence, are 4 Osage Orange trees.  Historically this species has had limited use as a living fence but today it has all but disappeared from our fence rows.
10. Black Cherry (Prunus serotina) - Norfolk's largest Black Cherry is a roadside tree found on Hwy #3 on the south side of the road just east of the Harmony Pastry Shop.  This three stemmed tree is 23.2 metres high and has a diameter of 125 cm.
11. White Elm (Ulmus americana) - One hundred metres west of the intersection of Windham Rd. #6 and Reg.Rd #25 on the south side of the road (approx 1/2 km south of Teeterville) is located a lovely large open grown White Elm which stands over 30 meters tall and has a diameter of 145 cm.
12a Red Oak (Quercus rubra) - In Lynnwood Park in downtown Simcoe there are several examples of large Red Oaks.   At the east of the park, beide the Lynn river is a wonderful old tree which stands over 30 metres tall and has a diameter of 132 cm.  Besides the Red Oaks in the park there are good specimens of Basswood, American Beech, Black Walnut, White Oak and White Pine.
12b White Oak (Quercus alba) -Several large examples of White Oak can be found in Lynnwood Park in the centre of Simcoe.  One big individual is over 30 metres tall and has a diameter of 30 centimeters.
13. Hills Oak (Quercus ellipsoidalis) - The distribution of Hill's Oak, one of the red oak group, is restricted to sand plains and moraines.  South of Waterford on Cherry Valley Road, just east of the Blue Line on the south road edge, is an example of this hedge-row tree which is 23 metres tall, and has a diameter of 90 centimeters.
14. Ginkgo (Ginko biloba) - An example of this pretty non-native can be seen in front of the Blue Elephant Restaurant at 96 Norfolk St. in Simcoe.  The Ginkgo is a tree of very ancient lineage and is found naturally only in a small area of China.
15. Cottonwood (Polulus deltoides) - The winner of the 1994 Great Tree Hunt was the magnificent cottonwood on Vandepoele Farms (lot 6, conc.10 North Walsingham Township).  This healthy tree is easily visible along the township road since its almost 40 metres (120 ft) high and 185 cm (74 inches) in diameter)

 

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