Trees Are the Champions, My Friends

Header image: Life’s a beech... a purple beech to be exact // Hedges Direct

This story is brought to you by Live in Everett Member, Lamoureux Real Estate.

I like quiet experiences. Especially during quarantine, when the constant stimulation of digital life fills the waking hours with the din of streamed content. Lately, to stay grounded, I’ve become just a big fan of situations that take me out of my house and headspace and into places where I can think or not think of my own volition.

So I was pretty excited when I came across a list of Everett’s champion trees. I knew I must seek them out and deeply, relentlessly appreciate them. One. By. One.

A variety of champion cypress trees abound in Evergreen Cemetery // Richard Porter

What’s a champion tree? A champion tree is the largest of its species. There are state champions and there are national and international champions. Everett has twelve state champions. Their locations range from Grand Avenue at the top of North Everett all the way down to the Cypress Lawn Memorial Park in South Everett. Five arboreal champs are concentrated in Evergreen Cemetery, which is sort of like a park... like, a creepy park.

Though not champion trees, monkey puzzle trees (Araucaria araucana) grow all over the place in the cemetery. These bizarre conifers are native to Chile // Richard Porter

Below is a list of Everett’s champion trees. It’s on my to-do list to search them all out in a sort of introverted, socially-distanced scavenger hunt. Please note that some of these trees are in residential neighborhoods on private property. It’s cool to search them out, but don’t lurk too hard or disrupt the occupants.

Who else is in? Bring your camera.

The hit list:

Weeping ash – Fraxinus excelsior “Pendula’ | 2131 Grand Ave.
Blue sentinel cedar | Forest Park maintenance building
Lawson cypress hillieri - Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Hillieri’ | 1725 112th St. SW
Lawson cypress lycopoioides - Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Lycopoides’ | 515 Laurel Dr.
Lawson cypress wisselii -Chamaecyparis lawsoniana “Wisselii’ | 1516 Rucker Ave.
Squrrosa cypress - Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Squarrosa’ | Cypress Lawn Memorial Park
Variegated sycamore stripeback | Maple 2701 17th St.
Umbrella pine - Sciadopitys Verticillata | Evergreen Cemetery
Lawson cypress versicolor - Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Versicolor’ | Evergreen Cemetery
Lawson cypress erecta glaucescens - Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Erecta Glaucescens’ | Evergreen Cemetery
Copper/purple beech - Fagus sylvatica ‘Purpurea’ | Evergreen Cemetery
European white elm – Ulmus laevis Pall | Evergreen Cemetery

Gotta catch ‘em all!

Before you go

Here are some fun facts before you head out.

Sycamore Maples are the trees that drop those “helicopter” seeds that whirl to the ground. They are originally from Europe and are mostly found on the East Coast of the United States. They grow remarkably well in urban environments because they can absorb a lot of pollution.

The umbrella pine is a sacred tree from Japan. It's a very slow grower. In nature, a seed can take a century to turn into a viable sapling.

The weeping ash of Grand Avenue // Richard Porter

The copper beech has deciduous leaves that are an impressive plum color. The leaves grow so dense on the branches that rainfall can’t get through — even in the drizzly Pacific Northwest. For this reason, you won’t find grass under a copper beech, but rather a layer of mulch, bark, or dirt. That’s a telltale sign of a beech right there.

Can’t get enough delightful foliage? I feel you. Be sure to visit the Everett Arboretum and Gardens (145 Alverson Blvd). Or, if you’re more the houseplant type, may I strongly recommend Planted in downtown Everett (2829 Wetmore Ave)? You can order their plants on Instagram and pick them up curbside. Way to grow -- uh, I mean, go.

Have fun out there, introverts, and take care. Spending time in nature is a great way to heal from a heckuva year. In the words of folk musician Bill Callahan:

“You won't get hurt if you just keep your hands up

And stand tall

Like sycamores”

Thank you to Katrina Lindahl for providing the scientific names for the Champion Trees.

Are you headed out to look for Champion Trees? Let us know what you find by using #EverettChampionTrees on social media.

THANKS TO LAMOUREUX REAL ESTATE FOR POWERING THIS STORY.
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