Tree Notes: Old Oak Tree Above a River

Thursday, February 15, 2007

Old Oak Tree Above a River

An old tree I like

This old oak stands just south of the junction of Highways 1716 and 68/80, east of Hopkinsville, KY. It grows on a ridge with other oaks, but bands of asphalt -- the old, 2-lane highway and the new, 4-lane highway -- separate this tree from its brethren.

I'm always a little worried about this ancient monarch. Every spring, I wonder if it will leaf out again. It's dead on top (perhaps struck by lightning). The bare branches are not as as noticable when the tree puts on its summer foliage.

Above the new highway and below the old highway, other oaks grow. Apparently, a large scattered grove of oaks once dominated the area. Oaks are scattered across many of the ridges that border the Little River valley.

Below is a look at other oaks in this group, farther down the slope and closer to the river bottoms. I believe them all to be southern red oaks, a common native tree in Christian County, KY.

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Print references I frequently consult

Benvie, Sam. Encyclopedia of North American Trees. Buffalo, NY: Firefly, 2000.

Brockman, C. Frank. Trees of North America: A Guide to Field Identification. Ed. Herbert S. Zim. New York: Golden, 1986.

Cliburn, Jerry, and Ginny Clomps. A Key to Missouri Trees in Winter: An Identification Guide. Conservation Commission of the State of Missouri, 1980.

Collingwood, G. H., Warren David Brush, and Devereux Butcher. Knowing Your Trees. Washington: American Forestry Association, 1978.

Dirr, Michael. Dirr's Hardy Trees and Shrubs: an Illustrated Encyclopedia. Portland, Or.: Timber, 1997.

Elias, Thomas S. The Complete Trees of North America; Field Guide and Natural History. New York: Book Division, Times Mirror Magazines, 1980.

Grimm, William Carey. The Book of Trees;. Harrisburg, PA: Stackpole, 1962.

Hightshoe, Gary L. Native Trees, Shrubs, and Vines for Urban and Rural America: a Planting Design Manual for Environmental Designers. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1988.

Little, Elbert L. National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees. New York: Chanticleer, 1996.

Martin, Alexander C., Herbert S. Zim, and Arnold L. Nelson. American Wildlife and Plants. New York: McGraw Hill, 1951.

Mitchell, Alan F., and David More. The Trees of North America. New York, NY: Facts On File Publications, 1987.

Randall, Charles E. Enjoying Our Trees. Washington: American Forestry Association, 1969.

Settergren, Carl D., and R. E. McDermott. Trees of Missouri. Columbia: University Extension, 1995.

Sternberg, Guy, and James W. Wilson. Native Trees for North American Landscapes: from the Atlantic to the Rockies. Portland: Timber, 2004.

Wharton, Mary E., and Roger W. Barbour. Trees and Shrubs of Kentucky. Lexington: University of Kentucky, 1973.

Wyman, Donald. Trees for American Gardens. New York: Macmillan, 1965.

Tree Notes