This Live Oak (Quercus
virginiana) pre-dates, by at least a century, the cotton plantations of this
region making it one of the oldest living organisms east of the
Mississippi. Our first visit was just
after an ice storm had moved through the area and the arborists who were
monitoring the tree and had responsibility for its care, had set up temporary
metal poles to support the large branches just prior to the storm. During our arrival we observed that all the
poles were bent.
Since our visit coincided
with the arborist’s project, we were able to engage him in conversation and
learned that the poles had become compromised with the added weight of the ice
from the recent storms. It was fascinating to watch these professionals
painstakingly and with much trepidation replace the temporary braces with the
more permanent. So much at stake in the
care of this highly valued tree. We
discovered that the care of this tree is very precise with monitoring practices
for insects, cabling large branches, prescription fertilization, and
pruning.
On our follow-up trip this
year we observed that the temporary poles were replaced by more permanent
wooden “telephone poles” to anchor and stabilize these massive branches. The tree is in outstanding health with a
great shape and form. With the care it
receives and its general health, the Angel Oak will probably provide future
generations many more years to enjoy its beauty.
