Monthly Gardening Tips

Noteworthy Trees of Cape May County

This title is a booklet in the Cornell University library compiled in 1947-1948 by Robert Alexander. At that time the Cape May Geographic Society was sponsoring a search for noteworthy trees. The trees were ID'D by residents then visited by the author and an assistant. They measured the circumference 4 and 1/2 feet above the base and estimated the height and width. Road mileage is given to the nearest tenth of a mile when describing the location of the tree. Often different street names were used back then. It was a challenge!

This was fun during the winter of 2021! Especially when we found the tree alive and well ! After all it was listed in 1948 almost 75 years ago! We found many huge trees that weren't listed and didn't get to all the trees that were listed. (there are 151) I think we took about 5 trips looking.

At the back of the booklet the author has indexes for whom the tree was nominated by, who "owned" the tree, an index for the place the tree was located in (for example Goshen has 5) and an index of the species of tree. So we chose what town to explore that day and hit the tree locations that were listed!

Below are a few examples of how the location of a tree was described and the size of it in 1948 and a picture I took.

89. By roadside, east side of Shore Road, Seaville, directly opposite the historic Friends Meeting House one mile south of Seaville-Tuckahoe Highway.
Cir: 11 ft. 5 in. Ht: 65 ft. Sp: 75 ft. Owner: Wilford Smith, Seaville, N. J.

4. In front of house, north side of Goshen-Cape May Court House Ailanthus (Ailanthus altissima) - China. Planted and naturalized throughout countyRoad, Goshen, 9/10 of a mile east of Delsea Drive. Cir: 13 ft. 11 in. Ht: 75 ft. Sp: 60 ft. Owner: Samuel Clarke, Goshen, N. J. 113. Only three trees remain in the yard of the historic Friends Meeting House on the west side of Shore Road, Seaville, one mile south of Seaville-Tuckahoe Highway. All three are White Oaks. Tree west of Meeting House-Cir: 8 ft. 6 in. Ht: 45 fit. Sp: 50 ft. West tree in south yard-Cir: 8 ft. 39 in. Ht: 50 ft. Sp: 60 ft. East tree in south yard-Cir: 7 ft. 8 in. Ht: 50 ft. Sp: 60 ft. Owner: Society of Friends, Seaville, N. J. (When we took this picture there was a huge stump there which was one of the other Oaks that had been recently removed)

For those who revere trees and want to go look for old trees I have the booklet in digital form I can share.

Tip - At mile marker 22 on the GSP north pull in and you will find the Shoemaker Holly tree, over 325 years old! It was saved! The Garden State parkway construction was routed around it! See Below.