Late Fall
Did you know that white bark on trees is a biological adaptation that protects against sun damage? Darker trees will collect heat faster when illuminated by the sun, while lighter trees will reflect the sunlight with their white bark.
The white oak is one of those trees. It clearly doesn't get its name its from leaves, which range in color from orange to burgandy in the fall, but from its bark, which appears white between thick ridges. In 1941, my home state of Maryland designated the white oak as our state tree. I was lucky enough to visit one of our local tree celbrities when I was a child, the famous Wye Oak.
The majestic Wye Oak was long recognized as the nation's oldest oak tree, having begun its life around 1540. Over its lifetime, it witnessed dramatic changes. Native Americans lived and hunted in the area around the tree, and over time, nearby trails developed into roads that helped populate Maryland's Eastern Shore. However, it wasn't until the early 1900s that the tree became famous for its size and tourists (like my family) began to visit. In 1940, the Wye Oak was named the largest white oak in the country by the American Forests Association, a title which it held every year for its life.
Unfortunately, the Wye Oak was not meant to last forever, and a severe thunderstorm on June 6, 2002 caused the big tree to collapse. At that time, the tree measured 96 feet tall with an average crown spread of 119 feet. It was 31 feet and 8 inches in circumference, and its trunk (or bole) weighed over 61,000 pounds.
Now, one of its offspring grows in its place. Truly a story of the circle of life.
Encaustic Wax on Cradled Birch Board, 6 x 6.
Did you know that white bark on trees is a biological adaptation that protects against sun damage? Darker trees will collect heat faster when illuminated by the sun, while lighter trees will reflect the sunlight with their white bark.
The white oak is one of those trees. It clearly doesn't get its name its from leaves, which range in color from orange to burgandy in the fall, but from its bark, which appears white between thick ridges. In 1941, my home state of Maryland designated the white oak as our state tree. I was lucky enough to visit one of our local tree celbrities when I was a child, the famous Wye Oak.
The majestic Wye Oak was long recognized as the nation's oldest oak tree, having begun its life around 1540. Over its lifetime, it witnessed dramatic changes. Native Americans lived and hunted in the area around the tree, and over time, nearby trails developed into roads that helped populate Maryland's Eastern Shore. However, it wasn't until the early 1900s that the tree became famous for its size and tourists (like my family) began to visit. In 1940, the Wye Oak was named the largest white oak in the country by the American Forests Association, a title which it held every year for its life.
Unfortunately, the Wye Oak was not meant to last forever, and a severe thunderstorm on June 6, 2002 caused the big tree to collapse. At that time, the tree measured 96 feet tall with an average crown spread of 119 feet. It was 31 feet and 8 inches in circumference, and its trunk (or bole) weighed over 61,000 pounds.
Now, one of its offspring grows in its place. Truly a story of the circle of life.
Encaustic Wax on Cradled Birch Board, 6 x 6.
Did you know that white bark on trees is a biological adaptation that protects against sun damage? Darker trees will collect heat faster when illuminated by the sun, while lighter trees will reflect the sunlight with their white bark.
The white oak is one of those trees. It clearly doesn't get its name its from leaves, which range in color from orange to burgandy in the fall, but from its bark, which appears white between thick ridges. In 1941, my home state of Maryland designated the white oak as our state tree. I was lucky enough to visit one of our local tree celbrities when I was a child, the famous Wye Oak.
The majestic Wye Oak was long recognized as the nation's oldest oak tree, having begun its life around 1540. Over its lifetime, it witnessed dramatic changes. Native Americans lived and hunted in the area around the tree, and over time, nearby trails developed into roads that helped populate Maryland's Eastern Shore. However, it wasn't until the early 1900s that the tree became famous for its size and tourists (like my family) began to visit. In 1940, the Wye Oak was named the largest white oak in the country by the American Forests Association, a title which it held every year for its life.
Unfortunately, the Wye Oak was not meant to last forever, and a severe thunderstorm on June 6, 2002 caused the big tree to collapse. At that time, the tree measured 96 feet tall with an average crown spread of 119 feet. It was 31 feet and 8 inches in circumference, and its trunk (or bole) weighed over 61,000 pounds.
Now, one of its offspring grows in its place. Truly a story of the circle of life.
Encaustic Wax on Cradled Birch Board, 6 x 6.