Hemlocks and Big Leaf Magnolias

[Joshua Szulecki]

This is an interesting discussion; let's take it a step further.

While bushwhacking on North Caney, I spotted a projectile point lying in plain view.  Should that stay right where it was?

On another Caney bushwhack, I found a turtle shell.  Should that stay where it was?

Both items live on my desk at work, and are among my most treasured possessions.  Was this wrong?

The turtle shell is debatable, depending on the circumstances and source. Would I take it? No.

The projectile point... Taking cultural/historical artifacts from public lands is a SERIOUS no-go in my book.  

"But if I'd like to have a plant in my yard that came from Bankhead, I think that's a reasonable use or OUR national forests."

So if you would like to have an endangered plant species in your yard, that would be a reasonable use? What about 100 straight pine logs for a log cabin? What about an endangered animal in your terrarium?  See the slippery slope? It is precisely this attitude which has DECIMATED populations of Cypripedium orchids in the Smokies and other areas.

[montysano]

So if you would like to have an endangered plant species in your yard, that would be a reasonable use? What about 100 straight pine logs for a log cabin? What about an endangered animal in your terrarium?  See the slippery slope? It is precisely this attitude which has DECIMATED populations of Cypripedium orchids in the Smokies and other areas.

Maybe you'd like to take a trip back upthread, to where I specified: no digging, no commercial use.  Merely picking up a seed pod.  And you compare that to "100 straight pine logs" and an "endangered animal in your terrarium"?  

Gimme a break.

[Joshua Szulecki]

As for the big leaf magnolia, I imagine it is a much easier tree to grow in cultivation, as my apartment complex has several.

The only disadvantages are that the leaves are a pain to clean up in the fall, AND they (to my overly sensitive nose) have a stink to them. Not as bad as the rotten shrimp tree (aka Bradford Pear), but still a nice musty funk.

Both Magnolia macrophylla and Magnolia acuminata are sold as seeds or seed-propagated plants, although acuminata seems harder to find.

[Joshua Szulecki]

Maybe you'd like to take a trip back upthread, to where I specified: no digging, no commercial use.  Merely picking up a seed pod.  And you compare that to "100 straight pine logs" and an "endangered animal in your terrarium"?  

Gimme a break.

I didn't interpret what you wrote as saying that, so I stand corrected.

My take on seeds is less strict. Collecting seeds generally results in a net positive for the species (since so few germinate in the wild compared to in cultivation) and so I am generally not opposed to it if you have permission or a permit, and if buying seeds or plants is impossible or is for some other reason not practical, such as for breeding a specific population. In this instance, it really isn't necessary unless you REALLY wanted the Alabama population, which IS geographically isolated from the rest of the population. 

[JustADude]

Well call me a simpleton. I asked what was legal because I assumed that illegal was bad and legal was OK.

I don't think anybody answered as to the legality of digging up a small sprout (8 inches tall?) from Bankhead outside of Sipsey.

I also take from this that if I ordered a small tree - either BL Magnolia or Eastern Hemlock - to grow in my yard in Limestone County, you guys don't think it would live. Is that right?

[AlabamaDan]

Well call me a simpleton. I asked what was legal because I assumed that illegal was bad and legal was OK.

I don't think anybody answered as to the legality of digging up a small sprout (8 inches tall?) from Bankhead outside of Sipsey.

I also take from this that if I ordered a small tree - either BL Magnolia or Eastern Hemlock - to grow in my yard in Limestone County, you guys don't think it would live. Is that right?

Sorry to take part of your thread off on a LNT tangent.  I'll spin that part off.  Spun off Thread Here

As for as legalilty, I don't know about digging up a small sapling.  As for if it will grow, I don't see either of those trees outside a while place and I'm just not sure.  I think one person collecting one seed pod to try and cultivate a tree is also ok, I mean you're planting a tree right?  What's wrong with that.   The other was just for argument's sake.

[Pathfinder]

It seems to me that a simple way to get a reliable answer as to the legal question, just call the Ranger Office in Double Springs and ask.

[JustADude]

Yea calling the Ranger's office would probably work.

I just thought that somebody here might had done that before and would tell me that it was legal, or would tell me that it is illegal, or tell me that they have some of those trees growing in an area far from Bankhead.

Thanks for your comments.

[Lostsheep]

I don't know, but digging in most national parks is illegal. That I know.

[Pathfinder]

Bankhead is not a National Park.  It is operated by USDA not Dept of Interior.

[Firedog]

AlDan, I'll stay away from the legal question but I can tell you eastern hemlocks will grow in your neighborhood. I have always had success with most plants. my wife says I can stick a stick in the ground and it will grow. The hemlocks are not that easy but doable. Check out this website on the hemlock: http://www.wildwnc.org/ed...nsis-pinaceae-pine-family

There is a lot of info that might help. I would suggest googling a grower in the southest and get a soil requirement for the hemlock.

The BL Magnolia is a different animal. I was in Barbour county once and saw a good specimen and pulled it up stuck it in a walmart bag. Several days after I got home I stuck it in the center of a flower bed and the 1st summer it didn't do much. But the next season it put on lots of new growth and bloomed nicely. It went from about 2' at planting to about 8-9' in about 5 years. So who knows.

I like to grow and show native plants and trees that are out of the norm. I enjoy someone commenting on a strange or different plant. Just like the hemlock story maybe I can raise someone Else's awareness about a tree or plant. By raising awareness it should make a difference  at some point. Carl W.