Meeman-Shelby State Park Oct. 4, 2014

When I was younger my two boys were scouts. They often went on hikes in the Memphis area and farther afield with their troop (Troop 276). Adults went along and this was a great excuse to do things most adults would not make time for on their own. One local trip was to Meeman-Shelby State Park. The one notable tree species here is the American Beech. I went back with my two sons and Susan to revisit this park, just a little north of Memphis.

Tennessee is divided into geographic zones. Most of Memphis is in the Tennessee bottoms These end in bluffs about 200-300 feet tall overlooking the Mississippi River. below these bluffs is the Mississippi Alluvial Plain, less than 300 feet above sea level. Meeman-Shelby State Park has trails that take you into the alluvial plain, where the beech trees love to grow.

Here are a series of photos taken on October 4, 2014 that show the trails and some of the trees. This park is home to 11 championship trees, but that info is not available at the visitors center.

Tree at the visitor center with five-pointed deep-lobed leaves, possibly a fig tree

Same tree, full shot

Welcome to the trail

Tree #100 American beech

Beech trunk

Same tree, upper branches

Stephen and David

Lots of ups and downs on the trail

A red arrow on the trunk marks the trail

Just because a tree has fallen does not mean it is down and out

Down in a hollow

Beech

Top part of the same tree

Some people can't help carving on these beech trunks

Come on. Put your hand in!

Large liane

Base of a large oak

Upper part of the same tree

Identifying features for this tree

The stream has patches of rushes

Yes, you are still on the trail

Stephen, Susan, Adam (in Shakespeare shirt), David (in Muir Woods shirt) and Merlin

Notice the woodpecker holes in the bark

Rosie checking the trail

Rushes closeup

another large American beech

Interesting striations. What is this tree?