Ocean Springs and Biloxi, MS  Live Oaks, Jan 2007   tuce-@msn.com
   Jan 03, 2007 13:49 PST 

ENTS,                                                                 
The last week in 2006, I spent a few days measuring and photographing
some of the larger Live Oaks I know of.

My Daughter, Grandson and myself went to Ocean Springs to measure the
Ruskin Oak and the Treasure Oak. Both are large and majestic trees. I
enjoyed sharing this with them and they seemed to really like the idea
of all this measuring, maybe some future tree measurers. Anyway, the
Ruskin Oak grows atop a small hillside overlooking a dry branch, about
200 yards from the Ms. Sound. I talked with the adjacent land owner and
he said Hurricane Katrina pushed water within a few feet of the tree.
Incredible, this tree is 20' above sea level! Our results are 27'2' CBH,
57' Height and 153' Spread. BTW the limbs on this tree grow along the
ground, some are underground for a moment then grow back up. It's the
greatest spread of a Live Oak I've measured to date.        

The Ruskin Live Oak in Ocean Springs, Ms. 27'2" cbh and 153' Spread. The greatest spread of a Live Oak I've measured to date.

  
Next, we went about a mile east and a mile north to the
Treasure Oak. Its located at a Country Club just north of Hwy 90 on
slight ridge adjacent to a small bayou system called Ft. Bayou. It
measured 24' CBH, 66' Height and had a spread of 137'. Both of these
trees are Quite Majestic with minor damage from Hurricane Katrina.   

The Treasure Oak in Ocean Springs. 24' cbh  66' height and 137' spread. 

The next day I remembered seeing a large Oak in East Biloxi and decided to
go and check it out. Glad I did! It was the largest tree to date I have
measured. It grows on a small ridge around 20'above sea level, and is
within 200 yards of the Ms. Sound. It also had minor damage and water at
its edge! It measured 35' CBH!, 54' Height and had a spread of 126'.
This tree is 10' in Dia., with massive limbs! 

East Biloxi Live Oak 35' CBH  57' Height 144' Spread. Largest Live Oak I've measured to date. 

My final stop in Biloxi,
was at the Ms. Coliseum. Earlier in the year I remembered seeing a big
oak. Its growing on a flat about 200 yards from the Sound and was in
about 10' of water during Hurricane Katrina. It had some damage but
looks like it's recovering nicely. It measured 24' CBH, 54' Height and
137' Spread. Ed, I'll send some photos.     

The Coliseum Oak in Biloxi, Ms. 24'6" cbh  54' height and a 126' spread. 

Larry   
RE: Live Oaks - back to Larry   Robert Leverett
  Jan 04, 2007 05:33 PST 

Larry,

   Congratulations, 35 feet, WOW! That is off the charts!

   It is time for the story of the live oak to be told or re-told and
you are obviously the one called by unseen forces to do it. Larry, you
were meant to be part of ENTS.

   I remember a trip I made when still in the Air Force to a number of
southern Air Force bases. I was inspecting postal and courier stations
at the time. As my permanent base, I was stuck in the Pentagon - a fate
I would not wish off on any poor soul. After a few weeks in that puzzle
palace, I would have gladly mopped floors or cleaned toilets to have
gotten away. But fortunately, it didn't come to that. I had a position
that required a lot of travel. So in the mid-1970s, I found myself on a
long trip by auto to inspect postal and courier stations. On the
particular trip I have in mind, I hit Shaw AFB in South Carolina first,
then it was on to Warner Robins in Georgia. I moved across the southern
states, hitting courier stations all the way to Shepard AFB in Texas,
before turning back. I recall seeing plenty of trees that tweaked my
interest, but I wasn't into measuring then. I could identify the
species, but really wasn't sensitive to big tree numbers.

    In those days, I could have never imagined a time when I would be
communicating with a fellow southerner in cyberspace about big trees,
but with me located in New England. I am looking forward to the time
when Monica and I can hit the road. I miss the sight of Spanish Moss,
southern magnolias, live oaks, crape myrtle, loblollies, sweetgums,
dogwood, redbud, and at least the possibility of seeing an alligator
somewhere. I'll pass over seeing an eastern diamondback or cottonmouth.
Been there done that. People here in the Northeast cannot imagine how
large eastern diamondbacks can get, at least on occasion. What's the
largest diamond back that you've seen? I bet our buddy Will Fell over in
Georgia has come across some real beauts. Will, what's the record?

Bob
Re: Live Oaks   Jess Riddle
  Feb 12, 2007 07:20 PST 

Larry,

Wow, a 153' spread. No wonder the Ruskin Oak is growing like crazy.
Having the spread measurements for the live oaks is great. I've
thought for years that they may have the broadest crowns of any
species in the eastern US, and it seems like you're starting to build
a case for that. It's also good to now that all the circumference
you're reporting are for single stem trees, unless otherwise noted.

Jess