Tree of a Kind (an Arbor cache) Multi-Cache
medoug: I was recently notified that it appears the key tree at stage 1 has been cut down. I confirmed this today. This, combined with cachers repeatably failing to replace the final container in its proper hiding place, I'm regrettably archiving this cache. :( It was a good run while it lasted. :)
Tree of a Kind (an Arbor cache)
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(regular)
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Arbor Day was established in 1872 as an annual holiday for celebrating and planting trees. In Illinois, Arbor Day occurs the last Friday in the month of April. To celebrate this holiday, I have "planted" a geocache dedicated to trees. This should be an easy, fun, and hopefully educational, 3-stage multicache. Each stage is almost a park-n-go, but I would highly recommend spending some time to investigate some of the interesting species in each area.
The first 2 stages take you to local arboretums (free admission) where many of the trees are marked with labels for identification. These labels will provide you with information that will allow you to find the 3rd stage cache container. I have tried to select some of the more interesting species in each park. (I have included brief descriptions for each tree listed, highlighting what makes each unique or interesting. As a bonus, I have listed the GPS coordinates for all of the trees in these descriptions so you can seek them as well if you like. Illustrations showing the shape of the leaves, flowers, and nut or fruit for further identification of each tree have been provided also.)
Stage 1, The Taylor Family Arboretum. (Use the listing coordinates.)
This arboretum was started by the Taylor family who called their estate the Bohemiana. This is Stephenson County’s most extensive arboretum with a great variety of species in a relatively small area. Today, the 1857 mansion is home to the Stephenson County Historical Society which is open for paid tours on the weekends.
The West coordinate for the 3rd stage will be determined based on the type of tree located at the 1st stage coordinates as shown below. (Note that all of these trees are present in the Arboretum. You will need to use the one closest to the listed coordinates.) Click here to see or print a brief description (viewed best at 100%), or click here to see illustrations for each tree listed for stage 1. The label for this tree is attached to the trunk.
The Stage 3 West coordinates will be:
W 089° 37.395’ if it is an American Basswood (a.k.a. American Linden).
W 089° 39.121’ if it is an American Beech.
W 089° 36.304’ if it is a Kentucky Coffee Tree.
W 089° 38.392’ if it is a Northern Catalpa.
W 089° 36.830’ if it is an Ohio Buckeye.
W 089° 38.611’ if it is an Osage Orange (a.k.a. Hedge Apple).
W 089° 38.072’ if it is a Shagbark Hickory.
Stage 2, The Don Opel Arboretum. (See “additional waypoints” at the end of the description.)
This 210 acre arboretum was started in the late 1960’s as a Green Thumb Project suggested by Donald Opel for landscaping the then-new Highland Community College campus. Some of the trees exist from when the area was originally native prairie and forest. More than 300 new trees and shrubs had been added. This arboretum also includes natural pond, prairie, and woodlands areas.
The North coordinate for the 3rd stage will be determined based on the type of tree located at the 2nd stage coordinates (see “additional waypoints”) as shown below. (Note that all of these trees are present on the campus. You will need to use the one closest to the listed coordinates.) Click here to see or print a brief description (viewed best at 100%), or click here to see illustrations for each tree listed for stage 2. The label for this tree is on a plaque sticking in the ground within a foot of the base of the trunk. (If the snow is deep in the winter, you might have to dig a little to find it.)
The Stage 3 North coordinate will be:
N 42° 16.604’ if it is an American Chestnut.
N 42° 18.159’ if it is a Dawn Redwood.
N 42° 17.618’ if it is an European Alder.
N 42° 17.377’ if it is a Ginkgo (a.k.a. Maidenhair tree).
N 42° 16.263’ if it is a Tulip Tree (a.k.a. Yellow Popular).
Stage 3, Final cache container (and more trees). (Coordinates obtained from stages 1 and 2 above.)
The cache is hidden in a stand of trees that was uniquely planted in the 1950’s. (Can you identify the type of trees in this planting?) The container is a camouflaged screw-top plastic container containing a logbook, a pencil, and starts with several tree-related trading items (books about trees, leaf-shaped car air fresheners, a tree ruler, autumn leaf window clings, etc.). This is not necessarily a theme cache, but rather, a fun way to start this one. Please return the cache to its original location and state of concealment. Be wary of muggles that might drive by. Also, please do not log information that might give away the location of this final stage.
Note: Be careful when searching for and retrieving the container so you don’t snag your clothes or, worst yet, yourself.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Jurer ryfr?... va n gerr. Ab pyvzovat erdhverq.