ragnhildur

The larch is in the Skrúður garden, that has a notable history as one of the first ornamental gardens in the country. The date of planting is not known exactly but based on notes regarding the garden it was most likely planted between 1908 and 1910, derived from seed sown in Akureyri between 1900 and 1905. Growing conditions at that time were quite difficult, especially during winter storms. The fact that the larch tree survived can be put down to the care of Sigtryggur Guðlaugsson, the founder of the garden, who took great care to shelter the trees during winter. At some point in the trees early years some goats also escaped into the garden and ate the top of the tree. A lower branch emerged as a new top, leading to a noticeable twist in the trunk of the tree. The tree has been regularly measured. In 1966 its height was measured at 8 m, in 1985 it had reached 9,55 m height and in 1995 10,55 m, with a circumference of 2 m at 1 m height.

Location of the tree on Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/oDCLZy8zNqxEiQiLA

An article (in Icelandic) from Skógræktarritið – The Journal of the Icelandic Forestry Association about the tree (here).

The rowan tree stands close to the shop at Ferstikla, right by the Hvalfjarðarvegur road and is easily visible from the road. The tree was planted in 1945, along with six other rowans. The trees initially thrived but after being sprayed accidentally with a cooling liquid from a fire prevention system six of the trees died and the one remaining tree suffered serious frost damage. The remaining tree recovered, however, and has since grown and thrived. The farmer at Ferstikla has looked after the tree, giving it fertilizer now and then and guarded it against any plans to cut it down. Now the tree lends beauty to the spot.

Location of the tree on Google Maps https://goo.gl/maps/F6LkFL9pza5ZcpQV8

An article (in Icelandic) from Skógræktarritið – The Journal of the Icelandic Forestry Association about the tree (here). 

The sycamore at Suðurgata was planted by the merchant Nicolaj Bjarnason and his family in 1918. The tree stands at over 10 m tall, with a large and even canopy. It has often borne ripe seeds and thus has descendants all over the country. Sycamore grows quite well in Iceland, although it is relatively slow growing and needs fertile soils and care in its youth. In its original habitats it can reach a height of 20-25 m and an age of at least 500 years, so the sycamore at Suðurgata still has a long life ahead of it.

Location of the tree on Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/DMSSYtHQf8Kz7wHs6

An article (in Icelandic) from Skógræktarritið – The Journal of the Icelandic Forestry Association about the tree (here).

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After no nominations for a Tree of the Year from the first tree in 1989 the project was re-launched in 1993, with expanded criteria (rarity, historical interest, beauty, unique positions etc.) with a birch tree in Fljótsdalur selected by the forest farmer Helgi Hallgrímsson as the Tree of the Year 1993. The tree stands in Skógarbali on the land of the farm Vallholt, along with four other birch trees, that have been nicknamed “eikurnar á Skógarbala” (“the oaks at Skógarbali”, large trees in the area have traditionally been referred to as “oaks”) and that are the last remnants of a large birch forest that used to cover the area. A local poet has written an ode to the tree, and the cluster of birch trees used to be a popular rest spot for travellers. The trees date back to the late 19^th century, so are well over a century old.

Location on Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/R4uS8v6sFsoVEgPZ9

An article (in Icelandic) from Skógræktarritið – The Journal of the Icelandic Forestry Association about the tree (here).

This first Tree of the Year was selected by Sigurður Blöndal, former head of the Icelandic Forestry Service and is a birch tree, standing in the outskirts of Vaglaskógur, near one of the main forest roads. At the time the tree was described as being tall for birch trees in Iceland, around 10 m in height and forming a single trunk up to about 3 m height, much broader than most birches. The bark was white and smooth, and the canopy is large, splitting into five main branches forming a larger canopy than most birch trees found in Iceland.

An article (in Icelandic) from Skógræktarritið – The Journal of the Icelandic Forestry Association about the tree (here).