Big Old Trees

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In 2020, ReLeaf Michigan kicked off its biennial Big Tree Hunt Contest. The two-year endeavor began in 1993 as a way to celebrate the state’s beauty and gather information about the giant trees of Michigan. This last cycle, more than 650 entries were made from 79 of the state’s 83 counties, and some of the arboreal finds may just be worthy of becoming state championship trees—the largest of their species. So, where are the biggest trees of the North? There’s a black willow in Benzonia Township with a 279-inch circumference (pictured), a sugar maple in Williamsburg clocking in at 198 inches around, and an Eastern white pine in Gaylord that took fourth in the list for the biggest version of Michigan’s state tree. ReLeaf Michigan is the only statewide tree planting nonprofit, and their next contest will kick off in spring of 2023. To see all of the 2020-22 winners, visit releafmichigan.org/big-tree-hunt.html.

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