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Going
to See "Big Momma"
On Saturday November 4, 2007, a group of tree lovers from two organizations (Friends of Dragon Run and the Native Plant Society) went on a field trip to visit ‘Big Momma’. Big Momma, located on the Nottoway River in Sussex County near Courtland, is the largest tree in Virginia. When arriving at the Nottoway River, the group took a short canoe ride across and stepped out into shallow water along a somewhat eerie looking shoreline. Those people with rubber boots (wellies) had dry feet for the three-hour slow walk in the swamp. There was very little undergrowth on the forest floor due to rising and falling water levels and very few insects, amphibians, or reptiles. Big Momma is a Bald Cypress, measuring 35’ around at its base and 123’ tall. Once upon-a-time, this ancient tree was taller before storms tore away the top branches. Surrounding the base of the tree are cypress knees, some of them measure more than six feet in height. Running down its trunk are lines of sap that glisten in the sunlight like red jewels. Big Momma is estimated to be 2000 years old. The trip leader, Byron Carmean, discovered and measured the old cypress tree and submitted it for champion tree status. Big Momma took the place of the biggest tree in Virginia when the tree in the center of Bedford lost a large limb and was cut down. Big Momma sits in a small patch of virgin forest on the Nottoway River, near the border of Virginia and North Carolina. The patch is a true example of a cypress-tupelo swamp. In addition to bald cypress and water tupelo trees, there are overcup oaks, swamp cottonwood, green ash, and water ash, many perhaps several hundred years old. The shapes and forms of the old trees were fascinating. Trees were growing on trees. Seedlings took hold on curves and indentations and grew roots down the sides of the old tree trunks. Over years, old trunks rotted away leaving behind only the younger trees standing on their roots. Lack of rain this fall made the old forest accessible to the group of visitors. The visitors took lots of photos of the unique habitat and took home a few samples of rare plants to be identified. It was a special trip and a once in a life time trip for many in the participants. |
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