"Wiggly" Locust Grove (Black Diamond) Traditional Cache

"Wiggly" Locust Grove got it's name from me, so I could point out the distinctive, not straight trunks of these trees.

As usual, please BYOP.

This From University of Kentucky:

BLACK LOCUST

Black Locust - Robinia pseudoacacia

Pea Family (Fabaceae)

Introduction:

Some cultivars of this species reach heights of only 20 to 30 feet. In May they offer fragrant flowers that are white or rose-pink, borne in racemes that are 4 to 8 inches long. Black locust is a tough tree that will survive very poor conditions.

Culture:

Black locust will adapt to many soils, except those that are permanently wet. It performs best on moist, loamy soils of limestone origin. Black locust transplants easily. It fixes nitrogen, partially creating its own supply of nitrogen. It is hardy in Zones 3 to 8 (possibly 9). It does have several problems, including internal decay (conk), borers and black locust leaf miner, which gives the tree a brown appearance in late summer. Although black locust does have these pest problems, with the exception of internal decay (Phellinus robineae), they seldom kill the tree. Trees with internal decay break apart in wind storms and should be removed in urban areas where their failure has the potential to cause property damage or endanger people.

Botanical Information:

    •    Native habitat: Pennsylvania to Georgia, west to Iowa, Missouri and Oklahoma.

    •    Growth habit: Often upright with a straight trunk. Form varies with cultivar.

    •    Tree size: Choose cultivars in the 20- to 30-foot range. Growth rate is fast.

    •    Flower and fruit: Flowers are perfect, white or rose-pink, 1 inch across and borne in May in 4- to 8-inch-long racemes. Even young trees flower. Fruit is a flat, brown-black pod, 2 to 4 inches long and dry and paper-like.

    •    Leaf: Leaves are alternate, pinnately compound and 6 to 14 inches long. Each leaf includes seven to 19 leaflets that are 1 to 2 inches long. Leaves are dark blue-green in summer and yellow-green in fall. Black locust drops its leaves early in fall.

    •    Hardiness: Winter hardy to USDA Zone 3.

Additional information:

The bark of black locust is reddish brown to almost black with deep furrows. Bees make a delicious honey from black locust flowers. Locust pods are eaten by livestock and wildlife.

Near the end of the 18th century black locust became extremely popular in Europe. It is thought that the botanist for France's Henry IV, Jean Robin, or his son Vespasien, sent seeds of black locust, probably from Louisiana, to Europe in the early 17th century.

Although decay organisms destroy living wood rapidly, once cut, black locust has durable, hard wood. Posts made of locust wood will last at least 50 years. It was once a prized tree for making ship masts.

Black locust is an interesting plant. It is native to North America, where it is hardly used (partly due to pest problems). In contrast, it is a common tree in Europe and numerous interesting cultivars have been selected. In China, where very few imported plants are used, black locust has escaped and I have seen it take over mountainsides at the expense of native Chinese flora.

 From the Morton Arboretum:

Black locust (Not recommended)

Black locusts have invasive traits that enable them to spread aggressively. While these trees have demonstrated invasive traits, there is insufficient supporting research to declare them so pervasive that they cannot be recommended for any planting sites. Review of risks should be undertaken before selecting these trees for planting sites. Black locust produces hanging clusters of very fragrant white flowers in spring. This fast-growing native tree can form colonies and has brittle wood. Sharp spines may be present, especially on sucker growth. They are also susceptible to locust borers.

The cache is a tied in, camoed, “small” pill bottle, that you have to make sure you don’t loose the lid of. You have to line up the arrows to pry it open, then watch out, as it’s not attached at the other end! Then you twist the lid to lock it in place, when you're done. Only log, with rubber band and sealed plastic bag, to start. Please make sure they stay dry. There’s room for tiny SWAG. BYOP.