BRFAL Chapter Virginia Naturalist en-training enjoy a Forestry Field Trip to Montmorenci Tree Farm in Hardy Virginia
Our gratitude to Tom and Sallie Newbill for hosting this group at their fabulous property and sharing part of their successes with us
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| Jennifer Gagnon teaches about forestry |
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| Mature female loblolly cones from last Fall |
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| Landowner Tom Newbill (center) and Don Kelso of BRFAL Chapter (left) |
Montmorenci Tree Farm is 700 acres total (some devoted to agriculture) where the Newbills grow Loblolly Pines to sell as construction lumber. Virginia is the most northern region to grow Loblolly Pine - Pinus Taeda (for the scientific name, Pinus is the Latin name for the pines and taeda refers to the resinous wood.) The word loblolly means "low, wet place", but these trees are not limited to that specific habitat. Loblolly Pines grow well in acidic clay soil, which is common throughout the South, and are thus often found in large stands in rural places.
