Ohio’s 2nd largest weeping willow has seen 200 years of Mansfield history

MANSFIELD — Larry Linn is an avid 80-year-old gardener who once interviewed fleeing North Koreans and taught disadvantaged ninth graders.

The interviews were part of his U.S. Army duties following the Korean War, while his teaching took place in the Mansfield City Schools. He has obviously seen a lot.

But Larry shares his yard with a beloved old friend who is twice his age and has most likely had experiences beyond what Larry has witnessed. Larry’s close friend stands a few yards behind his home and has the distinction of being one of the two largest weeping willow trees in Ohio.

As Larry understands, willows are tender beings. They are soft at heart and easily move where the wind takes them. They are wistful and always go with the flow.

But they are vulnerable beings – easily hurt even when they are cherished and protected. Growing old for a willow is a real achievement.

Larry has cherished and cared for his willow for 43 years, including trimming away dead limbs to preserve health. He estimates his tree is about 200 years old. The grand old tree has been recognized by the Ohio Big Tree program, administered by the Ohio Division of Forestry.

His age estimate is based on a formula that considers the circumference, height, and breadth of a fast-growing species.

“I take great pride in my gardening and landscaping here,” Linn said, describing his five-acre parcel that once won a top garden award from the Mansfield Men’s Garden Club. “I am particularly fond of the willow, but I have planted 25 or 30 species of trees. It is a symbiotic relationship. I take care of the trees, and they give back to me.”

In 2015, the tree measured 224 inches in circumference at four and one-half feet above the ground, 92 feet high and 73 feet wide at the crown height. The tree was first measured in 1995, and again in 2002 and 2015. A comparison that reflects the rate of growth for the willow comes from the 2002 measurements of 208 inches in circumference and 89 feet in height.

Larry’s tree was the second largest willow in Ohio during each of these three measurements. Larry believes the tree has grown enough to take over first place but does not know the status of the previous top willow, located in Franklin County.

Formal measurements by the state are to take place about every five years.

Larry’s only worry about the next measurement is that he has lost an upper limb that could reduce the width of the canopy.

Larry is pretty much a self-taught gardener and landscaper. He probably wouldn’t argue if you called him an environmentalist. He said his father did have some influence on his interest in plants and trees.

He recalls watching his dad plant an acorn with a plan of eventually having an oak tree in the yard. That tree still stands on Columbus Street in Crestline.

When talking about his love for the willow, Larry does caution visitors against hugging the big tree. The reason for the caution is the 30-foot high tangle of poison ivy vines around the base of the grand old man. When asked why he allows this poison ivy to thrive, he says it is for the birds.

“People don’t realize how important poison ivy is for feeding the birds,” Linn said. “The vines produce a lot of white seeds, and the birds love them.”

Linn, his wife, Linda, and his willow live at 752 Lex-Ontario Rd. in Springfield Township.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Tom Brennan is a member of the Mansfield In Bloom steering committee and is the retired editor of the News Journal.

This is the first in a series of articles he  has written for the Mansfield In Bloom project – 2018. Tom is on the Mansfield In Bloom steering committee and is champion of the MIB Community Profile. He was responsible for writing the 25-page community profile that was submitted to the America In Bloom Judges in June 2017. He has also volunteered for the same project in 2018.

This story, as well as future monthly articles, will be to spotlight the unique and great things about Mansfield in relation to beautification projects.

The organization’s goal is to reach as many residents as possible as this month’s article will help to create a list of unique and historic trees located in Mansfield/Richland County as well as highlight the subject.

In February, Brennan will interview and provide an article on The Richland Carrousel’s gardener that has been responsible for the massive plantings surround the Carrousel building.