Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Live Oak, living legends
LIVE OAK, the graceful tree remains one of enduring symbols of the south, robust, captivating and long lasting. Much thought and devotion, unaccountable dollars, innumerable hours of toil and an abundance of love are put into preserving these precious trees.
Numerous specimens of live oak are invariably seen covered with hanging masses of Spanish moss and have provided welcome and cooling shade to generations of children at play, slaves at work, slave owners at leisure and young couples in love. The example in the photo is approximately 250 years old and stands strong and proud along the Cane River on the Melrose Plantation south of Natchitoches, (pronounced NACK-I-TISH) Louisiana.
While driving throughout the Deep South, Paul and I spotted many glorious specimens of live oak on farms, ranches, historical sites and elsewhere. One can’t help but marvel at the formidable shapes and patterns, lacey silhouettes and dark contrast compared to the wide-open blue sky and adjacent fields of crops. So often the live oak with its characteristic hanging moss has been copied as logo or symbol on consumer products, used as a romantic backdrop in films and photographs and let stand as an icon of the south.
Live Oak is part of the Beech family and is deciduous. They may live for 200 years or more surviving war, drought, neglect and abuse. The graceful live oak truly remains a highly recognizable and poignant symbol of the American south. What a story they could tell. Enjoy.
Numerous specimens of live oak are invariably seen covered with hanging masses of Spanish moss and have provided welcome and cooling shade to generations of children at play, slaves at work, slave owners at leisure and young couples in love. The example in the photo is approximately 250 years old and stands strong and proud along the Cane River on the Melrose Plantation south of Natchitoches, (pronounced NACK-I-TISH) Louisiana.
While driving throughout the Deep South, Paul and I spotted many glorious specimens of live oak on farms, ranches, historical sites and elsewhere. One can’t help but marvel at the formidable shapes and patterns, lacey silhouettes and dark contrast compared to the wide-open blue sky and adjacent fields of crops. So often the live oak with its characteristic hanging moss has been copied as logo or symbol on consumer products, used as a romantic backdrop in films and photographs and let stand as an icon of the south.
Live Oak is part of the Beech family and is deciduous. They may live for 200 years or more surviving war, drought, neglect and abuse. The graceful live oak truly remains a highly recognizable and poignant symbol of the American south. What a story they could tell. Enjoy.
# posted by Ann Carol @ 9:32 PM 
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