FredL

Chris, it has always seemed to me that a little common sense goes a long way in this area. Myself, I collected lots of seeds when I started and nobody that noticed me plucking them from trees in the woods or from the ornamentals in our local shopping malls seemed to mind. I also collected seedlings from my own yard and from around the neighborhood. Same lack of objections.

Now here's where it gets more controversial, but I'm in a true confessions frame of mind: Where I live, there are miles and miles of back woods roads, lots of cow pastures, lots of unoccupied "resort/retirement lots for sale. Also, areas used hard by the ATV crowd and used to dump everything from beer cans to old refrigerators. I collect trees in these areas and don't ask permission. I collect on the road right-of-way and drainage ditches and in areas badly abused by illegal dumping and ATV recreation. The trees I collect are pretty ho-hum specimens, except for some rather pretty Short Leaf Pines that I've taken from an area treated alot worse than I have been with my collecting by dumpers and ATVers.

I've never had anyone object, including our local Sherrif's deputies.

Now, I'd treat many other situations quite differently. Many situations clearly indicate contacting the property owner and trees of significant value, at least in my opinion, should never be taken, even with permission, unless a person has sufficient expertise to keep them alive and develop them appropritely. Nor, should their collection result in significant loss to the natural environment. At least, in my opinion.

I imagine this response to your question will elicit a certain number of stern, strongly worded lectures about never, ever collecting a tree without getting permission from the property owner. This question always gets alot of that from folks apparently eager for the chance to let the world know all about their moral rectitude. Well, everyone has a right to their own opinion. This is mine.

Best regards, Fred