It’s no coincidence that the live oak symbolizes strength, stability,
and steadfastness; for we cannot imagine what growing up in Louisiana
would have been like without spending a good deal of time among the
limbs of a majestic live oak tree.
| Dr.
Edwin Lewis Stephens, Founder
The Live Oak
Society was founded in 1934 by Dr. Edwin Lewis Stephens, the first
president of Southwestern Louisiana Institute (now the University of
Louisiana in Lafayette).
The Society promotes the culture, distribution, preservation and
appreciation of the live oak tree, scientifically known as Quercus
virginiana.
The Live Oak Society began with 43 members chosen by Dr. Stephens and
now boasts 7151
members in 14 states and
is under
the auspices of the Louisiana Garden Club Federation, Inc.
The first president was "The Locke Breaux Oak" in Taft, Louisiana, who
lost its life in 1968 due to air and ground water pollution.
Its successor and current president is the "Seven Sisters Oak",
formerly known as "Doby's Seven Sisters". The owner who first named the
tree was Carole Hendry Doby, who was one of seven sisters. "Seven
Sisters Oak" is located in the Lewisburg area of Mandeville, Louisiana
on the shore of Lake Pontchartrain. Estimated by foresters to be 1200
years old, this tree has a girth of over 38 feet.
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PRESIDENT
of the Live Oak Society
Seven Sisters Oak, #200 on the registry,
located at 200 Fountain in Lewisburg, LA; two blocks from Lake
Pontchartrain.
This oak is also the National Champion on the National Register of Big
Trees. |
Click
Photo for larger image
copyright
© 2006 Patrick Burke
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copyright
© March 2007 Coleen Perilloux Landry |
The first
vice-president is "Middleton Oak" in Charleston, South Carolina, with a
girth of 31 feet. The second vice-president is the "St. John
Cathedral Oak" in Lafayette, Louisiana, measuring 27 feet. The "Lagarde
Oak" in Luling, Louisiana, is third vice-president and measures 29
feet. "Martha Washington Live Oak" in Audubon Park in New Orleans,
Louisiana, is fourth vice-president and measures 28 feet in girth. The
largest registered stand of 249 live oaks is in City Park in New
Orleans.
Live Oaks
- When Lightning Strikes
Many
people ask if they should cut down their oak tree because it was struck
by lightning. The answer is “give it time”. Some
trees
suffer only partial loss from strikes. Just because the bark
has
been burned off by the lightning does not mean the tree will
die.
Just as a cut on your finger heals, so can the branch or trunk of the
tree heal. Do not be too hasty to give up on the
tree.
This
tree was struck by lightning in the summer of 2010. One
branch of
it died but the rest is thriving with a nice canopy. The
wounds
have healed. |
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