An amazing tree in Queen Anne Park is now a Heritage Tree. If you haven’t walked or driven by 3218 Conkling Place W, you’re missing out not only on a nice walk around Queen Anne Park, but also on the sight of the gigantic Northern Catalpa – you can’t miss it. Here’s a photo from the owner of the tree, it’s just starting to leaf out for the season:
Per the owner, the tree was planted in the late 1930s and today it measures 54 inches in diameter. Not only is it now in the City of Seattle’s Heritage Tree program, Arthur Lee Jacobson also featured it in his book “Trees of Seattle”.
PlantAmnesty kicked off the Heritage Tree Program in 1996, with the City of Seattle joining in as a co-sponsor a few years later. Today, the Heritage Trees are mapped and searchable online (they are orange on the map), and surprisingly, the Queen Anne Park Northern Catalpa is only the eighth Heritage Tree on Queen Anne.
With so many amazing trees on Queen Anne, how can we get more Heritage Trees on the list? Here is the info you need from the Heritage Tree site:
Heritage Trees may be on either City or private property. Each candidate tree is assessed by a certified arborist and evaluated by a review committee. Heritage Trees must meet criteria for health, in addition to being selected according to one of the following categories:
- Specimen – A tree of exceptional size, form, or rarity.
- Historic – A tree recognized by virtue of its age, its association with or contribution to a historic structure or district, or its association with a noted person or historic event.
- Landmark – Trees that are landmarks of a community.
- Collection – Trees in a notable grove, avenue, or other planting.
To nominate a Heritage Tree, go to this site and then click on the form to nominate a tree. You’ll be contacted and if your tree is considered, a team of arborists will visit to see the tree in person. They then notify you via mail to let you know if the tree has been accepted or not. If accepted, you get a certificate and the option to get a plaque for your tree too.
According to the owner, the process took several months. She also had an independent arborist assess the tree and conduct diagnostics to ensure its health. This particular step is not required, but it will help make your case and provide a clean bill of health for the tree. Here’s the Northern Catalpa fully leafed out:
Weather-wise, this week is a great week to take a walk – plan ahead and swing by 3218 Conkling Place W to see the tree in person, it’s pretty spectacular!