HI Jane and welcome to the site. I can't help you with your request. But I did merge the two identical thread you somehow got started into one. Way to start upping your post count right off the bat. :icon_thum:wwink:
I am sure someone will be along soon that might be more familiar with your area and what's available.
Please drop by the Who We Are forum and give us all a little intro to you and what you like to do...I am assuming carving is one of your activities
Dave
Howdy DaveO,
Sorry bout that double post. I'm new to this site and still figuring out how things work in here.
And, YES Chris I have to ask directions all the time. It's really embarassing when I can't read a basic road map. :slap:
8 to 12 inch trees I may have, but I will have to look. I don't remember seeing any Black Gum but we have almost every common hardwood that grows in the South.
If it was maple, dogwood, poplar, sycamore, cherry, walnut, persimmon, oak, sassafras, locust, hickory or beech I could take you straight to it.
Are you sure you want Black Gum?
The wood is very tough, cross-grained, hard to work, and warps easily. It can be used for containers, crossties, rough flooring and pulpwood. Black gum heartwood often rots, creating dens for wildlife, including black bears.
I walked over some of the more remote areas near the creeks and in the high hollows this weekend, I didn't see any gum trees bigger than 5-7 inches across. Any stumps would be 30 years old. Plenty of nice lighter pine stumps but the gum would be long gone by now.
Sorry I can't help with this one.