The Inimitable Oak
“It is not so much for its beauty that the forest makes a claim upon men’s hearts, as for that subtle something, that quality of air, that emanation from old trees that so wonderfully changes and renews a weary spirit.”
Courtesy 2014 D. Tracy Ward – somewhere Forsyth County, Georgia
As a believer, I give The Creator constant thanks for designing this breathtaking and beautiful place we call Earth. But this abode we call home (albeit temporarily) can be harsh and brutal… and eventually deadly. Life breathes for only a limited time. Nature (wind, rain, seasons, etc.) can be tough on earth’s plants and animals. It’s sad when we say goodbye to a young life, yet we are impressed when we see someone (or something) who has defied the odds to reach an extraordinarily old age. Some things in the natural world just deserve our respect… for simple survival if for no other reason.
We view it as unexpected and astonishing when a living thing endures the elements and odds for several hundred years. Think about it – what do you know that characteristically lives more than a brief 100 years?
Of the birds of the sky – only a parrot can live to be 100 years old.
Of the fish of the sea – nobody knows for sure, but we believe some can live to be 200-300 years old.
Of the animals of the earth – humans on average live to 80 years old, while a tortoise might make it to 200 years old.
Of the plants of the earth – the world’s trees are the most impressive! The root system of a Pando aspen tree can live to an estimated 80,000 years old. California’s Jurupa Oaks are estimated to be 5,000-30,000 years old. Pennsylvania’s box huckleberry bush is estimated at perhaps 8,000 years old. Obviously the Author & Creator of the planet gave a special enduring ability to the world’s plants, in particular our trees.
a TREE is the original inspirational architectural column form of ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece and Rome. One might say that human shelter – Architecture – begins and ends with trees!
Temple of Thefeus; Plate I – ANTIQUITIES OF ATHENS – hand-drawn ca. 1751
Let’s focus on one particular tree species . . .
the one we southerners romantically speak of in our ruminations of youth;
the one that majestically towers above most other foliage of the forest;
the one that conjures stories of days gone by – stories of both good and evil that transpired beneath its massive limbs;
the one that lines the streets of our oldest towns and frames the facades of our favorite classical buildings.
Let’s gaze at the southern Oak tree.
Live Oaks surrounding Sheldon Ruins – circa 1745
In the southern US, the most prominent oaks are the Live Oak, White Oak, Pin Oak, Turkey Oak, Red Oak, and quite a few other varieties too… about 600 species of Oaks are found around the world! Oak wood is very resistant to insect and fungal attack because of its high tannin content. And the aesthetic value of its visually appealing grain markings makes it a favorite for architectural uses. Oak interior paneling has been used in European buildings since the Middle Ages; and it’s still used today for architectural millwork, furniture, barrels for whiskey and spirits, as well as flavorful chips for smoking of various foods. Oak was the choice for planking used in Viking ships of the 9th and 10th centuries.
One particularly patriotic example of a strong and sturdy oak structure is the still-surviving USS Constitution launched in 1797. Although built in Boston, the ship’s Live Oak material was harvested and milled near St. Simons, Georgia. During the War of 1812, the Constitution managed to surprise the British, when many of their cannon shots actually bounced harmlessly off Constitution‘s oak hull. An American sailor reportedly exclaimed “Hooray, her sides are made of iron!” … and she subsequently acquired the nickname “Old Ironsides“.
The original 1797 sail plan for the Constitution was recently discovered among the holdings of the National Archives. (19-N-9982)
But for all its “usefulness & practicality”, prior to any form of harvest, the grand old oak tree is romantically admired in its natural form for its grandeur, its majesty, and its stateliness amidst the crowded woodland. For each of us – this life on earth seems to be an ongoing battle to delay the inevitable end. But the old oak tree somehow defies all challenges and routinely outlives us individually, ties us together across the generations, and graciously points us toward a future lifespan that will truly last forever!
Joshua 24:26
And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God, and took a great stone, and set it up there under an oak, that was by the sanctuary of the LORD.
Resources:
https://www.archives.gov/ (National Archives)
A tremendous 200+-year-old white oak tree commands a prominent place in the front yard of the equally magnificent home: A Place we call RIVENDELL
D. Tracy Ward, Architect
Originally prepared 2014. Edited and uploaded May 2018 – DTW’s Blog #0020
Our Original Posts, including images when applicable, are copyrighted © 1993-2018 by D. Tracy Ward and Benchmark Design, PC. God bless America! Treasure Liberty always and pass it on! “Architecture aims at Eternity. Architecture has its political Use; publick Buildings being the Ornament of a Country; it establishes a Nation, draws People and Commerce; makes the People love their native Country, which Passion is the Original of all great Actions in a Common-wealth.” [CHRISTOPHER WREN, Parentalia]
