St. Gaudens National Historical Park has one of the largest thornless honey locust trees in the country. Up until recently it was the largest. Now one in Virginia is larger. This tree was thought to be planted by Augustus St. Gaudens in front of his house in the late 1800s.
The steps to the house have been moved many times to accommodate the girth of this tree. One member of our group worked here 50 years ago and said that the tree was to the right of the door then. Now you can't see the door to the house.
The head gardener is trying to grow offspring of this tree. One way is that clear ball around the branch below. Somehow roots develop and it can be planted.
The tree has it's own ecosystem (maybe that's not the right word) as shown by these lilac sprouts growing above ground between the trunk and a large branch.
I didn't step back far enough to get a view of the entire canopy. It's outfitted with lightning rods as a precaution plus horizontal supports to support the heavy branches.
Some more views of these lovely grounds.
Gardens
The Little Studio
And a reproduction of a famous sculpture.
Come to New Hampshire to see this wonderful park. With latest cutbacks on national park funding it's only open Thursday-Monday. We were there on a Tuesday for a special presentation to our historical society and garden club members. The buildings weren't open but grounds were.