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As you might remember from some of our Tree of the Month articles, many common species in our area have pretty long lifespans. For example, in places like Savannah and Charleston, the southern live oaks you see there are likely to be at least 150 years old. Loblolly pines, which are common to the Athens area, can be expected to live up to 300 years in favorable conditions. But what’s the longest living tree? The first species that comes to mind is probably the redwood. Those towering behemoths are surely some of the oldest in the country, if not the world, right? That’s pretty impressive, but redwoods are by no means the longest-lived tree species out there. In fact, they are comparatively going through their angsty teen years. Species such as the bald cypress, chestnut, Grecian olive, and sequoia have recorded members well over 3,000 years old. The World’s Oldest Living TreeSo which tree is actually recognized as the oldest on the planet? Until just a few years ago, that title belonged to a humble bristlecone pine known as Methuselah. You might remember from Sunday School that Methuselah was the longest-lived person in the bible, reaching the ripe old age of 969 years. But that’s pennies compared to the age of Methuselah the bristlecone pine. By most estimates, the tree Methuselah is believed to be over 4,852 years old. Aside from microscopic organisms whose ages we can’t definitely confirm, that makes Methuselah the oldest living thing on the planet. This ancient tree resides in the Inyo National Forest, somewhere between the Sierra Nevada range in California and the California-Nevada border. Its exact location is undisclosed by the US Forest Service to prevent vandalism, but you can visit the Inyo National Forest and see plenty of other bristlecone pines that are similarly ancient. But wait – we said Methuselah was the oldest living tree up until a few years ago. What about now? In 2016, another bristlecone pine in the Inyo National Forest was discovered that is believed to be over 5,000 years old, beating out Methuselah by at least 150 years. This tree has not been given a name, and is usually referred to collectively with Methuselah as “Methuselah and its senior.” AuthorEmily Casuccio is sister and sister-in-law to Rebekah and Scott Rushing, and has over half a decade of experience in copywriting, copyediting, proofreading, and developmental storyboarding. She's worked with both published and undiscovered authors on both fiction and nonfiction, and takes pride in supporting local businesses. Her passion lies in the written word and helping authors of all capacities realize their dreams and achieve their fullest potential. To learn more about her, read samples of her work, or contact her, visit her online portfolio.
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Springtime is here! There are little blue and white wildflowers blooming in the grass, and the trees are sprouting new leaves and buds. Or are they? As you’ve probably noticed, not all trees are showing new leafy growth. In fact, some look just as dead as they have all winter. Your first instinct might be that these trees are dead or diseased. But don’t cut them down just yet! There are a lot of different factors that go into knowing when a tree should be growing new leaves. As a general rule, trees start to wake up after their winter dormancy once the temperatures start warming and the days get longer. For the Southeast, that’s as early as mid-March, and as late April. But there isn’t any one specific day of the year when that happens. And when it does start to get warmer and the days longer, it’s not like flipping a switch. The shift happens gradually. In addition to this, trees bloom and develop leaves at their own pace. Things like their species, size, age, and the availability of resources can direct how and when a tree starts to leaf out. Some trees might get the memo earlier than others, so they’ll start to bloom first. Other trees might take much longer to grow leaves, so the change is a bit delayed. Birch and willow trees tend to bloom earlier than other species to get a head start on food production time. Oaks and elms, on the other hand, wait until the last minute to start budding, because the sudden drops in temperature in the spring can be especially damaging for them. So how are you supposed to know if your tree is just getting a slow start, or if it’s actually in danger? The first thing you can do to check on the health of your tree is just look at it. Get up close and examine those branches. Leaf buds, especially when they’re brand-new, are pretty small. If you’re looking from a distance, you might not be able to see them. If you don’t see any buds, the next easy way to check a tree’s health is by bending the twigs. Healthy, living twigs will bend easily, and are difficult to break off without the use of cutting shears. Dead or dying twigs, on the other hand, will break in half, crack, or crumble. If you aren’t confident about the twig’s status after bending it, try a few more. After bending a few twigs, if you still aren’t sure, you can cut a twig or two from the tree and examine the inside. Living twigs will be moist and colored some shade of green, depending on the species. Dead twigs will be dry on the inside, and will be a “lifeless” color (white, cream, grey, brown, ash, black, etc). If you come across dead or dying twigs, it’s time worry. Check for other signs of decay, like insect burrow holes or rot. You can also give your friendly neighborhood arborist a call. We offer free estimates, and will come out and diagnose the problem for you. But what if you don’t find anything wrong? The twigs are bendy and green on the inside. There’s no visible rot or insect burrow holes. But you also don’t see any new growth. The best course of action here is to be patient. Give your tree some time to catch up. You’ll most likely begin to see those leaf buds peeking out in just a few weeks. If they don’t, we still do free estimates all summer long, so you can give us a call then and we’ll come check it out! AuthorEmily Casuccio is sister and sister-in-law to Rebekah and Scott Rushing, and has over half a decade of experience in copywriting, copyediting, proofreading, and developmental storyboarding. She's worked with both published and undiscovered authors on both fiction and nonfiction, and takes pride in supporting local businesses. Her passion lies in the written word and helping authors of all capacities realize their dreams and achieve their fullest potential. To learn more about her, read samples of her work, or contact her, visit her online portfolio. You’ve probably heard before that there is a Cherry Blossom tree festival in Japan every year – but did you know there’s an International Cherry Blossom Festival celebrated right here in the United States? In fact, the Cherry Blossom capital of the world is in Macon, Georgia! What Makes Cherry Blossoms So Special?Cherry trees bloom once every spring, but the flowers only last for about a week before the petals begin to fall from the trees. From start to finish, any given cherry tree will have blooms for a mere ten days on average. Despite the short-lived nature of their beauty (or perhaps because of it), cherry trees have been an important symbol in Japanese culture and identity for centuries. Called Sakura in Japanese, cherry trees were originally used to determine harvest times, as their blooming is heavily dependent on the weather. This practical application led to an association of good harvest, health, and plentiful times with the pink and white flowers. Over the years, the anticipation of seeing those flowers led to gatherings, celebrations, and eventually, formal festivals. Today, cherry blossoms represent ideals of impermanence, hope, and renewal. There are countless events, parties, specialty tours, and more in Japan around cherry blossom time, and the blooming is a major tourist attraction for the country. How Did the Cherry Blossom Festival Come to America?Our nation’s Capital is littered with beautiful cherry blossom trees, making the beautiful grounds even more stunning for a few short weeks in the spring. The credit for bringing Japanese cherry blossoms to Washington DC goes to one Eliza Scidmore, a diplomat who became enamored with cherry blossoms after visiting Japan. Upon returning to America, Scidmore petitioned to have cherry blossoms planted in DC. This first appeal, in 1885, would not become successful until 1909, about 24 years later, when a renewed request reached First Lady Helen Taft. The First Lady had lived in Japan and knew the beauty of cherry blossoms, and agreed that they would be a wonderful addition to Washington. Within the year, plans were underway to plant hundreds of cherry trees along the Speedway. Before they broke ground on the project, the Japanese consul in New York heard of the plans, and suggested that the City of Tokyo donate an additional 2,000 trees to fill out the area. First Lady Taft agreed to accept the donation, and the mayor of Tokyo similarly approved of making the trees a gift to the United States. The completion of the project took a few years due to scale and a few technical problems along the way, but the fruits of that labor can be seen to this day in the beautiful cherry trees surrounding the Capital. The Cherry Blossom Festival in Macon, Georgia
During this time, you can walk the cherry-blossom-lined streets on the Cherry Blossom Trail, a special route that passes by near-endless blooming cherry trees. Cherry trees will also be available for purchase at Carolyn Crayton Park, for just $15 each. The Different Kinds of Cherry TreesThe term “cherry tree” might seem like it refers to a specific species. But actually, there are dozens of varieties of cherry trees, all native to China and Japan. They come in many shapes and sizes, some with pale white flowers, bright pink flowers, and every shade in between. The tree that spurred the devotion in Japan is the Yoshino cherry. The Washington DC cherries are largely Yoshino, but there are many other varieties there as well. What Are the Best Cherry Trees to Grow in Georgia?If you’d like to plant your very own cherry tree, you’ll be pleased to know they are very easy to maintain. There are four main varieties that do well in the unforgiving heat of Georgia summers. All four of these varieties prefer full sun to partial shade, which means about 4 hours of unfiltered sunlight every day. They like plenty of water, but grow best in well-drained soil. Weeping Cherry Weeping cherries are often confused as a variation of the weeping willow. While their branches have a similar drooping appearance, they aren’t actually related. Weeping cherries come in different strains, with different average sizes, growth patterns, flower colors, and leaf colors. When you go to buy one, be sure to read the characteristics to make sure you’re getting your favorite. Yoshino The Yoshino cherry is the star of the International Cherry Blossom Festival. On average, these trees reach around 35 feet tall, and have light pink to pinkish-white blooms. Their leaves change to yellows and reddish-browns in the fall. Okame Okame cherry trees are more ornamental, and are a good indicator of the arrival of spring in the south. The flowers of the Okame tree are deep pink, and the branches are largely leafless. On average, they reach about 20 feet tall, and have an overall oval-like shape. In the fall, the foliage turns orange-red, and the park itself turns a glossy red-brown, giving an overall stunning fall display. Kwanzan The Kwanzan cherry tree grows larger blossoms than the other varieties. The blooms are ruffled, similar to carnations, and come in a range of pink shades. These trees can reach up to about 30 feet tall. They tend to grow out just as much as they do up, giving them a broader appearance than other cherry varieties. Do Cherry Blossom Trees Grow Cherries?This might feel like a silly question. They’re cherry trees, after all. Surely they grow cherries? The answer is yes, all cherry blossom trees do grow cherries, but not the kind you’d find at the grocery store. These cherries are small, bitter, and generally unappetizing. You can eat them if you like, but most people don’t. They are, however, a favorite of birds. AuthorEmily Casuccio is sister and sister-in-law to Rebekah and Scott Rushing, and has over half a decade of experience in copywriting, copyediting, proofreading, and developmental storyboarding. She's worked with both published and undiscovered authors on both fiction and nonfiction, and takes pride in supporting local businesses. Her passion lies in the written word and helping authors of all capacities realize their dreams and achieve their fullest potential. To learn more about her, read samples of her work, or contact her, visit her online portfolio. Quercus alba, more commonly known as the white oak tree, is one of the most important trees in America. These gentle giants are native to the continent, and can be found from Florida all the way to Canada, and as far west as Minnesota. Their presence helps encourage native biodiversity and discourage invasive species. White oak is heavily relied on in the lumber industry, and can be used for everything from furniture to houses. White oaks get their name from the color of newly-cut wood, which is much lighter on the inside. The bark on the outside is an ashy grey color, and grows in flaky plates that overlap, creating a series of furrows and scales. Eventually, older bark layers will fall to the ground and be replaced with new ones. Many white oak owners see the pieces of bark littering the ground and worry their tree is diseased or otherwise dying. But the flaking bark is completely natural. Did You Know?The white oak is the official state tree of Connecticut, Illinois, and Maryland! The branches of the white oak grow much lower to the ground than other tree species, and spread horizontally more so than vertically. This gives the tree an overall rounded appearance, as it grows nearly as wide as it is tall – which is saying something, because these trees reach average heights of 50 to 80 feet! Wild white oaks left undisturbed at moderate altitudes have been known to reach heights well over 100 feet, and can live as longs as 600 years. That growth doesn’t come easy, though. When young, white oaks may grow anywhere from 1 to 2 feet in a year, but as they age, that rate slows down considerably. The trunk of the white oak is generally just as massive as the rest of the tree, with an average diameter of 3 to 4 feet. White oaks prefer full sun or partial shade at all life stages, which means at least 4 or so hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight each day. They’re pretty adaptable to most soil textures and compositions, but deep soil is a must, as a white oak’s tap root (the main root that grows straight down) grows incredibly long. This long tap root makes these trees difficult to transplant, even when young – so if you plant one, be sure you’re absolutely confident in where you put it! Did You Know?The largest white oak tree on record was called the Mingo Oak, and lived in West Virginia. It stood 145 feet tall, with a crown spread of 96 feet and a trunk diameter of over 8 feet! The Mingo Oak lived to be almost 600 years old before it was cut down after succumbing to damage from local coal fire. A cross-section of the Mingo Oak is on display at the West Virginia State Museum. The leaves of the white oak are appropriately sized for the tree they grow on, and average anywhere between 4 and 8 inches long and 2 and 5 inches wide. Both sides grow 3 to 4 rounded lobes, with another rounded lobe at the tip. When they first sprout, the leaves are a soft, silvery pink color, and covered in soft, downy fuzz. Once they’re established, the leaves develop a bright green on the top with a softer, whiter green on the bottom. In the fall, white oak trees change to a mix of deep reds, reddish-purples, and dark oranges. White oak trees are what’s known as monoecious, which means they both male and female flowers on the same tree. The male flowers, called catkins, are skinny yellow clusters that hang down from the branches. On average, they sit around 4 inches long. The female flowers are smaller, reddish in color, and more spikey. In the fall, before the leaves drop, these flowers will produce acorns that are generally at least an inch long, with about a quarter of that covered by a warty cap. These acorns germinate quickly, within just a few days after falling from the tree, which makes them extremely easy to cultivate. It’s important to remember, though, that the acorns, along with the shedding bark and fall leaves, can present quite a ground litter problem – especially if they’re in your yard. But, if you don’t mind a little raking, white oaks make perfect shade trees in the hotter months, and will stand for generations to come. AuthorEmily Casuccio is sister and sister-in-law to Rebekah and Scott Rushing, and has over half a decade of experience in copywriting, copyediting, proofreading, and developmental storyboarding. She's worked with both published and undiscovered authors on both fiction and nonfiction, and takes pride in supporting local businesses. Her passion lies in the written word and helping authors of all capacities realize their dreams and achieve their fullest potential. To learn more about her, read samples of her work, or contact her, visit her online portfolio. |
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23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,
24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Colossians 3:23-24
24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Colossians 3:23-24