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Heritage Trees - Big John LbNA #15719 (ARCHIVED)

Owner:Adoptable
Plant date:Jun 11, 2005
Location:
City:Portland
County:Multnomah
State:Oregon
Boxes:1
Planted by:Double Tree
Found by: canonstraps
Last found:Feb 22, 2009
Status:FFFFFFa
Last edited:Jun 11, 2005
Designer: The Cheetah You Can't Beatah
Status: Alive and well.
Last reported: 10 June 2005
Hitchhiker friendly? Yes.
Child friendly? Yes.
Wheelchair friendly? No.
Time: 5 minutes from startpoint.

4/2/06 Stamp replaced with new carving. Old one was crumbling.

12/2/05 If you are saying to yourself "I thought Grow in Grace placed this box" -- you are right. They have moved, so I've adopted their 4 boxes for them, but all credit goes to them for carving and placement. Would love to hear all comments on box condition -- Double Tree.


Recommended Equipment and links:
1. Information on Portland Heritage Trees http://www.parks.ci.portland.or.us/urbanforestry/
2. Map: http://www.portlandparks.org/NaturalAreas/PowellButte.htm
3. Map of Big John's location: http://www.parks.ci.portland.or.us/urbanforestry/maps/se_v.html
4. Bible: http://www.bible.advocate.net/online.html (select "Detect Network Settings")
5. Protective clothing for Stinging Nettles: http://www.naturepark.com/snettle.htm

This letterbox is for Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), Number 260, aptly named "Big John". He joined the program in 2004 and is located in Powell Butte Nature Park, 45E 29.178 N, 122E 30.704 W. Or you could identify him by these statistics: Height 165 feet, Canopy Spread 65 feet, Circumference 18.8 feet.

Directions:

Find the trail marker that is at the intersection of Mt Hood Trail, Deer Trail and Cedar Grove Trail in Powell Butte Nature Park.

Find the verse in I John 5 that reads "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one." (King James Version)

Take the number of this verse and cube it.

Proceed north on Cedar Grove Trail the number of steps you computed above.

Look to your left (the west). There is Big John. He is about 9 steps off of the trail. He occasionally wears a small placard identifying him as such, but not always.

To Big John's immediate south is a much smaller vine maple with a root system that opens facing the trail. Find his stamp there covered by bark and sticks.


About the Heritage Tree Program…
The Heritage Tree ordinance became part of the Portland City code on May 19, 1993, and the first Heritage Trees were designated in 1994. Previously, an ordinance allowed for Historic Landmark trees (trees #1 (1973) and #2 (1975) are in this category), and an ordinance provided for Historic Trees (trees #3, #4, #5, and #6 were so designated in 1993).
This ordinance calls for the City Forester to annually prepare a list of trees that - because of their age, size, type, historical association or horticultural value - are of special importance to the City. Upon recommendation of the Urban Forestry Commission, the City Council may designate a tree as a Heritage Tree provided the tree’s health, aerial space, and open ground area for the root system have been certified as sufficient. No tree on private property can be designated without the consent of the property owner. This consent binds all successors, heirs and assigns.
The ordinance further states that it is unlawful for any person, without a prior written permit from the Forester, to remove, destroy, cut, prune, break or injure any Heritage Tree. No Heritage Tree can be removed without the consent of the Urban Forestry Commission and the Portland City Council. As of May 31, 2004, there are 255 Heritage Trees in Portland, representing 111 taxa/104 species. Of those, 132 are public trees (on the right-of-way, in parks, on a public golf course, or on public school property) and 123 are private. All of them are for the citizens of Portland to see and admire, so please visit them and enjoy what Portland has to offer.

More About Douglas firs:
DOUGLAS FIR (Pseudotsuga menziesii) PINACEAE
 Native from B.C. to Mexico. State tree of Oregon.
 Height can reach 300’, circumference >35’.
 Needles about 1" long, surround the shoot.
 Seed cone matures in one year, 3-4" long with 3-pronged bracts protruding under each scale. Male cone produces profuse yellow pollen in the April air.
 The most important timber tree in U.S.; very few old growth trees remain.
Very common in Portland.