Quercus virginiana in splendid maturity
Oak Alley Plantation is famous for a long lane, lined with live oaks, which leads to a large mansion. The plantation is located near the Mississippi River, about three miles from Vacherie, Lousiana, between Baton Rouge and New Orleans.
The live oaks were planted early in the 1700s by an unknown French settler. In 1722, monks traveling through the area made note of the double row of vigorously-growing young oaks in their journals. The trees were 120 years old (or more) when the current plantation home was built in the late 1830s. The 28 trees of the alley were the architect's inspiration for the 28 columns of the house.
The alley is 80 feet wide and about 800 feet long. Each side has 14 trees. The planter of the oaks planned well for their ultimate size. He knew that he would never see them in their maturity; yet, he thought about what they could become and what their space requirements would be. The magnificence of his vision is fulfilled, three centuries later.
Live oak facts
Southern live oak (Quercus virginiana) is nearly always wider than it is tall. Live oaks commonly reach a height of 40-60 feet with a spread of 1-1/2 times the height or more. Individual specimens may be 80 feet in height and 120 feet or more in spread. Live oaks often live 400 years, and individuals may live longer.
The tree is renown for its extremely dense, heavy wood. The acorns are relished by a wide range of wildlife; they are said to be the sweetest of all oak acorns. Native Americans gathered and stored live oak acorns to thicken their stew. They also pressed them and extracted an oil.
Like all live oaks, Quercus virginiana is an evergreen tree, holding its leaves throughout the winter months. In spring, old leaves drop off and new leaves are formed.
More tree history at Oak Alley Plantation
Another interesting bit of tree history took place at Oak Alley Plantation, In the 1840s, Antoine, a talented gardener who was a slave of the plantation, grafted the first paper-shell pecan trees. By 1865, 126 grafted papershell pecan trees were growing on Oak Alley Plantation. The variety of pecans which Antoine created became known as "Centennial".
Related websites:
Images of Oak Alley from Life magazine, 1952
Photographs of Oak Alley's trees and the mansion
Amazing images of big live oaks
Official site: Oak Alley Plantation
Photo credit: Wikimedia image by Rolf Müller, 2003.
"The power to recognize trees at a glance without examining their leaves or flowers or fruit as they are seen, for example, from the car-window during a railroad journey, can only be acquired by studying them as they grow under all possible conditions over wide areas of territory. Such an attainment may not have much practical value, but once acquired it gives to the possessor a good deal of pleasure which is denied to less fortunate travelers."
9 comments -- please add yours:
Your blog is a treasure. I found many articles, including this one highly engaging. Thanks for your work in building a compendium of information here.
Thanks for your kind words, Ilona. I hope you'll visit often. I added you to my "Friends of Nature" list.
Michel Arceneaux (1666-1731) planted the oak trees there in 1704 after being granted the lands that is now Oak Alley by King Louis XIV. He lived there for 3 years and left, leaving the oak tree marked area for his son and then his son. Michel III returned to the area to reclaim in in 1740. He lived on the area for the rest of his life til his death in 1798. He gave the lands to his 4 sons Michel IV, Gabriel, Louis, and Francois. They all sold the land and it eventually ended up in Jacques Roman's hands in 1836.
What an amazing story!
If anyone has any document or artefact related to the history of Michel Arceneaux and sons in this area, I would crave to see or get those first hand.
I'm in direct line with Michel Arceneaux ancestor and his story seems unbelievable, wrapped in mystery and thrilling adventure to Louisiana.
Plz contact me, Dan (korb007 (at) hotmail.com)
I too am a direct descendant of Michel, and I have a copy of my lineage.
I attended a wedding here about ten years ago. Those trees were absolutely breathtaking. I am still amazed by them.
I'm also a direct descendant of Michel Arceneaux, and I also have a copy of the Arceneaux family tree going back to Paris with Abraham.
I am planning a trip to Oak Alley in March. I know very little about trees and being a New York native I was wondering if the oaks would have their leaves when I visit. Your article as well as others comments answered my question and much more. It is astonishing how the vision of one man doing something as simple as planting some trees created such a beautiful legacy. I cannot wait to see them. Thank you
My husband and I visited Oak Alley Feb 24, 2018. Our tour guide, a bearded young man, told us the oaks were transplanted to form the alley of oaks. I had never heard his version regarding the oaks. Frankly, he was not a very good tour guide, failing to point out several things in the house, such as the faux marble painting of the baseboards and fireplace mantles. Having visited many plantation homes over the years in various locations, I was very disappointed in his failure to point out several different things about Oak Alley. The mint juleps, however, ( virgin) were delicious. The meal we had at soak Alley was delicious!
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