Comfort Maple
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The Comfort Maple tree is a Sugar maple (Acer saccharum) located in Comfort Maple Conservation Area in the Town of Pelham, Ontario. The tree is estimated to be approximately 500 years old [1]. While this estimate is not based upon a complete ring count [2], if correct, it would make this one of the oldest sugar maple trees in Canada [3].
The tree is named for the Comfort family, who acquired the land on which it sits in 1816 [4]. A township map from later in the 19th century shows the land owned by John B. Comfort [5] and a sign at the site tells visitors that the tree and the land around it was donated to the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority on April 30, 1961 by Mrs. Edna Eleanor Comfort. [4]
The tree is 24.5 metres (80 ft) tall and 6 metres (20 ft) in circumference at the base [1]. The tree has been repaired over the years with bricks [3] as well as concrete and guy wires [4]. The conservation area is located at the end of a narrow lane off of Metler Rd. (Niagara Regional Rd. 28) near North Pelham. It is surrounded by farm land. It is just 0.1 hectares (0.25 acres) and has a small parking area and a some benches. [1]
[edit] External links
Satellite view of Comfort Maple
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Comfort Maple. Retrieved on 2008-05-06.
- ^ Ontario's Oldest Trees. Retrieved on 2008-05-06.
- ^ a b Niagara College Garden Clippings - Sheet 92. Retrieved on 2008-05-06.
- ^ a b c An Ancient Wonder: The Comfort Maple. Retrieved on 2008-05-06.
- ^ Digital Collections Program (Note - 15MB). Retrieved on 2008-05-06.
