The Blackgum is one of the largest and most widespread trees in my forest (unlike my Texas yard where the tree I planted declined every year for several years until death). Together with the Sourwood it forms the dominant source of red in the autumn canopy. The leaves are smooth-edged and elliptical. The bark is usually divided into a checkerboard of deep blocks. There is a huge specimen straddling the SE border of Lot B, possibly just outside my boundary. This was the first giant Blackgum I found.
The second large specimen I found is on the ridge of Lot B, in the evergreen thicket. Circumference at chest height is 6 ft, 3".
The third very large Blackgum I found is close to the Eastern Hemlock, bordering the stream that separates Lots B and C. It has a large hole at its base that goes all the way through to the other side (a bit like many of my large Red Hickories) so it is likely hollow. Circumference is 9ft 0".
There is another huge Blackgum tree at the NE corner of Lot C (close to the huge Pignut and Red Hickories). Circumference is 7ft 11.5".
There is another very large Blackgum tree along the south stream in Lot B, close to the western border. This is my largest Blackgum at 9ft 0.5" circumference.
Deeper into the northern section of Lot C, there is a Blackgum tree with exceptionally blocky bark (first three pictures below). The fourth picture below is of another nearby large Blackgum tree.
By drone, the Blackgums are the emergent deep red trees. The picture below is the giant Blackgum at the SE border of Lot B. A spindly Black Locust is dwarfed by its expansive canopy.
The next two drone pictures are of emergent Blackgums along the south stream in Lot B (just north of the ridge).
This next picture is of a large Blackgum tree growing on the northern-facing slope of Lot B.