Last updated: 05 April 2020

List of all our publications

During the past years we not only visited tens of thousands of trees almost exclusively by public transport and bicycling and hiking. But we also did some publishing about what we found about about those remarkable trees partially from a more scientific, dendrological, historical, regional and social approach.

• 2022 - Strange shapes in trees I: an overview as well as harp trees and bipods
            - Some more remarkable yew trees in Brandenburg
  
• 2021 - Supplements and news about the remarkable yews in Brandenburg
  
• 2020 - A "forgotten" population of pitch pine in Brandenburg: impetus for further research on the history and existing occurrences of Pinus rigida MILL. in eastern Germany.
• 2019 - An unknown dendrological treasure in the middle of Berlin
  
• 2017 - With Theodor Fontane on the way to old trees in the Mark Brandenburg
            - Champion Trees for Germany
• 2016 - Climbing Beech is Champion Tree
            - Remarkable woody plants (Champion Trees) in the landscape park of Hoppenrade
• 2014 - Some remarkable Lime-Trees in Frankonia
            - Monumental contemporary witnesses, strong sessile oaks in Germany
• 2012 - 15 years of registration of remarkable trees

2022

• Strange shapes in trees I: an overview as well as harp trees and bipods.
  in "Mitteilungen der Deutschen Dendrologischen Gesellschaft Nr.107/2022"
  
  Abstract
  Trees of strange shape or with interesting forms have always fascinated people and numerous legends and myths are related to their origin and existence. Dendrologists and foresters recorded and documented them in the so-called „forest botanical notebooks“ and other tree books between 1900 and 1930. Likewise, numerous historical postcards and photographs from this time bear witness to specimens that were often known beyond their region.
  
  Scientific citation: Gomolka, A. (2022). Merkwürdige Formen bei Bäumen I: Eine Übersicht sowie Harfenbäume und Zweibeine [Strange shapes in trees I: an overview as well as harp trees and bipods]. Mitt. Deutsch. Dendrol. Ges. 107, 139-152.
  
  
  

• Some more remarkable yew trees in Brandenburg.
  in "Der Eibenfreund 28/2022"
  
  Zusammenfassung
  In the last Eibenfreund 27/2021 I presented the strongest and probably also oldest yews of Brandenburg. This second part is dedicated to some more yews from different regions of this federal state. They otherwise do not get as much attention as the widely known oldest and thickest of their kind, although they themselves are almost all already over 200 years old. Their origins date back to the 18th century. Often they stand in parks or gardens, where they were part of the baroque landscape design. Others were planted at Christian sites as trees of life, or in the continuation of ancient mythologies, symbolizing eternal life. And they more and more outlive their companions from other tree species in the same locations.
  
  Scientific citation: Gomolka, A. (2022). Weitere bemerkenswerte Eiben in Brandenburg [Some more remarkable yew trees in Brandenburg]. Der Eibenfreund 28/2022, 49-65.
  
  

2021

• Supplements and news about the remarkable yews in Brandenburg.
  in "Der Eibenfreund 27/2021"
  
  Download the article (only in German)
  
  Zusammenfassung
  For over 20 years, my wife Marion and I have been visiting and documenting remarkable trees, especially in Eastern Germany. Wherever possible, we have also sought and collected historical sources about the trees, e.g. old postcards, local history booklets, yearbooks, lists of natural monuments, etc., or even interviewed the local people in order to document and preserve the stories and history of these old trees. Together with the measuring data that was often also recorded there, this is valuable information for exploring their origin and earlier function and for a better estimation of their true age.
  In the following, we would first like to present the most interesting, i.e. the strongest and probably oldest yew trees in Brandenburg. Some of them may be little or not at all known in the among German yew lovers, others have already been introduced in the "Eibenfreund", but get more information about their age and conservation history here.
  
  Scientific citation: Gomolka, A. (2021). Ergänzungen und Neues zu den bemerkenswerten Eiben in Brandeburgs [Supplements and news about the remarkable yews in Brandenburg]. Der Eibenfreund 27/2021, 53-77.
  
  
  

2020

• A "forgotten" population of pitch pine in Brandenburg: impetus for further research on the history and existing occurrences of Pinus rigida MILL. in eastern Germany.
  in "Notifications of German Dendrological Society No 105 - 2020"
  
  Download the article (only in German)
  
  Abstract
  For over 20 years we have been exploring remarkable trees in eastern Germany. Apart from the tree giants in the villages, parks and fields, we have repeatedly come across “foreign” trees in the forests. A short description of Pinus rigida in an old DDG yearbook was the impulse to investigate more about the history and occurrence of this species. A forest historical search for traces about a North American tree species, which raised very high hopes before 1900 which were widely disappointed. The specimens still to be found today can be traced back nearly solely to the forestry cultivation experiments from 1880 to around 1900, and we know of only one further planting in the 1930ies. This short report shall make this rare tree species better known again and thus contribute to its preservation.
  
  Scientific citation: Gomolka, A.; Scheich, M. (2020). Ein "vergessener" Bestand der Pech-Kiefer in Brandenburg: Anstoß zu weiteren Forschungen zur Geschichte und zu existenten Vorkommen von Pinus rigida MILL. im Osten Deutschlands [A "forgotten" population of pitch pine in Brandenburg: impetus for further research on the history and existing occurrences of Pinus rigida MILL. in eastern Germany]. Mitt. Deutsch. Dendrol. Ges. 105, 79-90.
  
  
  

2019

• An unknown dendrological treasure in the middle of Berlin
  in "Ginkgogazette Nr.155, January 2019"
  
  Download the article (only in German)
  
  Abstract
  In the middle of Berlin stands a dendrological rarity, a Bosnian maple (Acer opalus subsp. opalus), close to the German dome. Every day thousands of tourists pass by without knowuing of its noteworthiness.
  
  Scientific citation: Gomolka, A.; Scheich, M. (2019): Ein unbekannter dendrologischer Schatz mitten in Berlin [An unknown dendrological treasure in the middle of Berlin]. Ginkgoblätter Kurzmitteilungen Nr. 144, 49-51.
  
  
  

2017

• With Theodor Fontane on the way to old trees in the Mark Brandenburg.
  in "Beiträge zur Gehölzkunde Nr.22/2017"
  
  Hier gehts zum Artikel
  
  Abstract
  The study of remarkable trees is always connected with the search for historical sources and evidence. Be it historical postcards, lists of natural monuments, tree books and, for example, the forest botanical notebooks. In the travel literature, including travel guides and travel reports, such trees often lead a shadowy existence; they are rarely explicitly mentioned or even described. Almost always, the focus is on man-made cultural sights such as cities, buildings, churches, castles, parks and the personalities associated with them, in addition to the landscapes, countryside and natural scenery. Even though the writer Theodor Fontane (1819-1898) achieved quasi "pomological-dendrological" fame with his poem "Herr von Ribbeck auf Ribbeck im Havelland" about a pear tree, he makes no exception to this in the five volumes of his "Wanderungen durch die Mark Brandenburg" (published 1862-1889). Remarkable trees - definitely present at the places described by him at his time - do not appear in his descriptions with a few exceptions. These exceptions are always in the context of a cultural reference. However, the travel reports written from the middle of the 19th century onwards are an early source as far as the description of tree individuals is concerned. In the article, some of the trees described by him are presented on the basis of the relevant excerpts from his texts and linked to other historical sources. They are completed by some examples where Fontane must have seen remarkable tree individuals but did not consider them worth mentioning.
  
  Scientific citation: Gomolka, A. (2017): Mit Theodor Fontane unterwegs zu alten Bäumen in der Mark Brandenburg [With Theodor Fontane on the way to old trees in the Mark Brandenburg]. _Beiträge zur Gehölzkunde 22: 19-36.
  
  
  

• Champion Trees for Germany
  in "Notifications of German Dendrological Society No 102 - 2017"
  
  Download the article (only in German)
  
  Abstract
  Champion Trees for Germany
  In December 2008, the joint Champion Tree project of German Dendrological Society (DDG) and Society German Arboretum (GDA) was launched. Since 2009 the database containing the registered trees and shrubs is growing continuously and can be accessed by the public through the internet. Since 2010 a Champion Tree of the year is elected every year and presented to the public with a local ceremony. Dendrological collections refer to the project by presenting their Champion Trees with flyers and tree signs. To discuss and to define terms of correct measurement methods is also part of the work as well as new registered trees are verified for correct taxonomy as far as possible. This article is about the contents and the goals of the project and gives an overview about the development since 2009 until 2016 and the current state of acquisition.
  
  Scientific citation: Gomolka, A. (2017). Das Projekt Rekordbäume / Champion-Trees in Deutschland [Champion Trees for Germany]. Mitt. Deutsch. Dendrol. Ges. 102, 261-270.
  
  
  

2016

• "Climbing Beech is Champion Tree
  in "TASPO Baumzeitung 04/2016"
  
  Download the article (only in German)
  
  Abstract
  On April the 24th a European beech (Fagus sylvatica) with the girth of 345 inches was nominated as the Champion Tree of the yeas 2016. It stands in the landscape park of Hoppenrade, county of Prignitz, federal state Brandenburg. Accompanying this article in the "TASPO Baumzeitung" (Tree newspaper) was released. It covers the nomintaion and tells about the other ermarkable trees of the park.
  
  Scientific citation: Gomolka, A. (2016): Kletterbuche ist Rekordbaum [Climbing Beech is Champion Tree]. TASPO Baumzeitung 2016-04, 23-26.
  
  
  

• Remarkable woody plants (Champion Trees) in the landscape park of Hoppenrade
  Published by the author himself
  
  Download the flyer (only in German)
  
  Abstract
  Also acompanying the nomination of the German Champion Tree 2016 in the park of Hoppenrade, this leaflet was produced to show all of the remarkable trees of the park.
  
  Scientific citation: Gomolka, A. (2016): Bemerkenswerte Gehölze (Championtrees) im Landschaftspark Hoppenrade [Remarkable woody plants (Champion Trees) in the landscape park of Hoppenrade], published by the author himself.
  
  
  

2014

• Some remarkable Lime-Trees of Frankonia
  in "Notifications of German Dendrological Society No 99 - 2014"
  
  Download the article (only in German)
  
  Abstract
  Some remarkable Lime-Trees in Frankonia
  Notable and well-known trees generally are associated with outstanding size or old age. But a tree is also noteworthy with “dimensions” derived from his relations to people, from his sociocultural basis. A strong relationship “man – tree”, associated with a, mostly former, role, creates over hundreds of years, an historic “vita” of the individual tree and also ensures his existence.
  Located in Frankonia is a multitude of partly old and strong, but especially noteworthy lime trees, which can provide a basis for the analysis of the cultural history of trees with the means of Dendrology and historical research. Also questions on data collection, aggregation and statistical evaluation arise, as well as on the formation and differentiation of function classes.
  Some selected examples show the great variety of noteworthy individual trees and their stories. What do we know about them and how are they treated today.
  
  Scientific citation: Gomolka, A. (2014). Bemerkenswerte Linden im Fränkischen Raum [Some remarkable Lime-Trees of Frankonia]. Mitt. Deutsch. Dendrol. Ges. 99, 103-120.
  
  
  

2012

• 15 years of registration of remarkable trees
  in "Studienarchiv Umweltgeschichte Nr.17/2002"
  
  Download the article (only in German)
  
  Abstract
  Back in 2012 it had been 15 years of serching and collection remarkable trees. Time for a short review. We did not know back then, that today, five years later, it would be nearly 50.000 trees in our database.
  
  Scientific citation: Gomolka, A. und Scheich, M. (2012): 15 Jahre Erfassung bemerkenswerter Bäume [15 years of registration of remarkable trees]. _Studienarchiv Umweltgeschichte 17, 27-33.
  
  
  

One of the hundreds of trees we published about.

The so called "Silkebuche" a European beech (Fagus sylvatica) in the Schorfheide Forest, County of Uckermark, State of Brandenburg - All Rights Reserved.