May 2021
August 2021
Every tree has a story that can be explored in its annual growth rings. If only the Great Oak could talk, what stories it would tell! This Shumard oak (Quercus shumardii) has likely been around since before the time of Dr. Munger, when the property was part of a working farm. After a large limb came down in 2002, a look inside the cavity revealed that this tree may actually be several stems that grew together early on in its life.
The tree has such large, sprawling branches because it grew without the competition of other trees, unlike trees grown in a forest. It was one of these large limbs that came down in a storm on July 17th, 2021. The limb drop left a significant cavity and our garden staff wanted to get advice from several certified arborists as to how best to keep this stately tree secure and safe for visitors.
The large limb has been taken to the ground and many of the small branches were chipped to return valuable nutrients to the earth. Other branches will be used for projects, and a few will be made into tree cookies that will record part of the life of this tree. For now, it still stands tall and continues to grow, albeit with one less limb.
Many school children have sat under the shade of the Great Oak. Some of those children are grown and have taken their own children to Boxerwood. Visitors have stopped to admire it and photograph families beneath it. It has seen Fairy festivals, Pumpkin Walks, and weddings beneath its canopy. It has given shelter and food to countless woodland birds, mammals, reptiles, and insects. And it will continue to provide countless benefits to humans and wildlife alike as it enters its next phase of life.
