Historic tree gets needed cleanup

One of South Sound's historic trees received a professional checkup and pruning Monday that should extend its life.

The butternut tree was planted by Tumwater pioneer George Washington Bush in 1845 next to the homestead he built on a grassy knoll overlooking what is known today as Bush Prairie near the Deschutes River.

The tree measures nearly 20 feet in circumference at its base, with a canopy that towers 60 feet high. It's showing signs of decay from old age and an ill-advised topping about 50 years ago that allowed water to invade the trunk.

The tree, which weighs an estimated 50 tons to 75 tons, is the largest butternut tree in the state and one of the largest in the nation, according to University of Washington forest ecologist and researcher Robert Van Pelt.

At the invitation of property owners Tony and Marilyn Sexton — they live in a house built next to the tree and just a few feet from the original Bush home — Olympia arborist Ray Gleason of Cascade Tree Experts visited the butternut Monday with his forklift and pruning equipment.

He'd seen photographs of the tree, but this was his first personal encounter.

"I couldn't believe it is as vigorous as it is, considering its age," Gleason said.

Gleason is donating his time and labor to care for the tree as part of a community project to preserve historic trees in South Sound.

Armed with a chainsaw and pruning saw, Gleason cut dead wood out to reduce breeding areas for disease and reduce the risk of heavy branches breaking off in bad weather.

In most cases, the wood in the dead branches and leaders showed little sign of rot and decay, which is a good sign for the overall health of the tree, Gleason said.

"I'm just excited to see it has this much preservation potential," he said.

Next, compost and mulch will be added around the base of the tree to encourage root growth and health, said Neal Wolbert of Wolbert's Landscape Healthcare.

The tree, also known as a white walnut, produces a buttery-flavored nut that is encased in a thick, dark brown shell. The tree is a legacy of the Bush family, one of the five pioneering families to form the first permanent U.S. settlement north of the Columbia River.