Detroit Yacht Club gets historic designation

**One Shot** · March-19-12, 08:41 PM

Kind of off topic but since were talking about both clubs. What kind of tree is the one right out front of the BOAT club? Its a tall tree that is shaped kind like a Christmas tree. Seen them around and always wondered.

**p69rrh51** · March-20-12, 08:30 AM

Originally Posted by One Shot

Kind of off topic but since were talking about both clubs. What kind of tree is the one right out front of the BOAT club? Its a tall tree that is shaped kind like a Christmas tree. Seen them around and always wondered.

Spent over 20 years of my life there and never gave the tree any thought.

**One Shot** · March-20-12, 11:42 AM

Originally Posted by p69rrh51

Spent over 20 years of my life there and never gave the tree any thought.

The tree on the far left-kinda cut off in the pic. What kind is it???

**Seven Seat** · March-24-12, 11:35 AM

Originally Posted by One Shot

The tree on the far left-kinda cut off in the pic. What kind is it???

Interesting that you ask about that tree, I only recently found out about it when someone from the Nature Zoo was leading an island tour and stopped by the Boat Club to look at it. It's know as a 'Dawn Redwood' and it is listed as being 'extremely endangered'. Here's a short quote from Wikipedia:

Metasequoia [[dawn redwood) is a fast-growing, deciduous tree, and the sole living species, Metasequoia glyptostroboides, is one of three species of conifers known as redwoods. It is native to the Sichuan-Hubei region of China. Although the least tall of the redwoods, it grows to at least 200 feet [[60 meters) in height. Local villagers refer to the original tree from which most others derive as Shui-sa, or "water fir", which is part of a local shrine. Since that tree's rediscovery in 1944, the dawn redwood has become a popular ornamental.

From the photos I have of the Boat Club, this one was planted around 1951 so not long after the tree was rediscovered in China. The one in the photo is a male, there is a second female tree just out of view on the front lawn and another equally tall male in the back by the pool.

Back in the day, the Detroit Boat Club was know for its plantings and floral displays.
Steve