On a visit to Mount Vernon recently, we saw this huge Tulip Poplar tree that was reported to have been planted by George Washington in 1785. Here is a quote from MountVernon.org about the tree planting:
On January 12, 1785, Washington recorded in his diary, “Road to my Mill Swamp, where my Dogue run hands were at work & to other places in search of the sorts of trees and shrubs I shall want for my walks, groves, & wildernesses.” On his first tree-tagging trip he found elm, ash, maple, poplar, sassafras, dogwood, fringe and redbud trees. From January of 1785 until the middle of 1786, his diaries are full of his plant explorations and details of his landscaping accomplishments. He planted aspen trees along the serpentine avenues, dogwood, maple, poplar, and mulberry in the shrubberies, and wagon-loads of Virginia pine in the wilderness areas. Washington’s excitement with his progress is evident in his diary entries, and with great satisfaction he recorded on March 3, 1785, “Employed myself the greatest part of the day in pruning and shaping the young plantation of Tree & Shrubs.”The tree is tagged with a metal plate with the note that the tree was planted by George Washington.
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