| Heroditus, the father of ancient history, recorded | | | | found in large numbers in the Southeast, so there |
| in the mid-400's B.C., that oak trees were reputed | | | | will certainly be turkeys out in the morning and |
| to have within their boughs, the gift of prophecy. | | | | evenings looking for live oak tree delicacies, |
| The presence of oak tree galls in oak trees is | | | | gobbling invitations for their turkey friends to |
| caused by insect larvae that tunnel inside the | | | | come down and join them in Thanksgiving for the |
| twigs. The oak tree branches can become | | | | Fall feast. |
| infested with numerous little galls that look like | | | | When Oak trees are planted for shade trees one |
| brown or tan balls, as the cells of the oak tree | | | | must consider the overall height of the tree. The |
| grow to surround the insects inside. Some | | | | Black Oak Tree, and White Oak Tree can grow |
| cultures call these creations, 'Oak Apples,' and | | | | as tall as a hundred feet, whereas, the Water |
| they are used commercially to produce tannins, | | | | Oak and Sand Live Oak, and Chinquapin Oak will |
| ink and a wide assortment of medicinal remedies. | | | | only reach fifty feet or there about. Quercus |
| The use of oak wood is well known as a hard | | | | rubra or Northern Red Oak, one of the fastest |
| wood with many uses reported in ancient times. | | | | growing oak trees, can reach towering heights of |
| It is not an easy task to write about the history | | | | eighty feet in just about half the time that a Sand |
| of oak trees, because there are so many species, | | | | Live Oak takes to grow fifty feet, and is often a |
| all having different stories of their own in historical | | | | choice shade tree among new home builders. |
| development of tree lines, having evolved in | | | | Along the Georgia Coast at Sea Island, Georgia, |
| different climates in different nations of the World. | | | | oak trees have been planted around the main |
| William Bartram in 1773 wrote in his book, | | | | hotel, and since their opening in 1928, famous |
| 'Travels', that he slept underneath the "protecting | | | | former Presidents, and dignitaries from around the |
| shade of the hospitable live oak, and reclined my | | | | world have planted a Live Oak tree to |
| head, and at Fort Frederica, Ga. "under the whole | | | | commemorate their stay at Sea Island, Georgia, |
| spreading boughs that opened a spacious avenue | | | | even Former President George Herbert Walker |
| leading to the former seat of General Oglethorpe." | | | | Bush and former First Lady Barbara Bush |
| One live oak tree called the Wesley Oak, named | | | | honeymooned there. Lady Margaret Thatcher, |
| after the founder of the Methodist Church, John | | | | former prime minister of Great Britain, planted a |
| and Charles Wesley, was used to carve out a | | | | Live Oak at Sea Island in 1994. President G.H.W. |
| rugged, wooden cross, that is still used at the | | | | Bush planted a Live Oak tree in 1991 while on |
| altar of the Christ's Episcopal Church on St. | | | | vacation at the Cloister. On February 12, 1941, |
| Simon's Island, Georgia, also the island site of Fort | | | | Howard Coffin, the founder of Sea Island, had |
| Frederica, Georgia. | | | | planted a Live Oak tree grown from a seed |
| Over the last several hundred years, all around | | | | brought from Surry England, to commemorate |
| the world, different varieties of Oak Trees have | | | | the founder and first Governor of Georgia, |
| been discovered; six hundred plus. Oak trees are | | | | General James Oglethorpe, whose home was in |
| desired among the gardening world for many | | | | England. Lastly, the most recent Live Oak trees |
| different reasons. Some gardeners like the old | | | | planted on Sea Island, Georgia was in 2004 during |
| world appeal of swooping oak tree limbs, covered | | | | the G-8 Summit, when President G.W. Bush, and |
| with hanging Spanish moss. Some may like to | | | | British Prime Minister Tony Blair planted Live Oak |
| plant them for shade trees, but what is probably | | | | trees at the inauguration of their meetings with |
| the most famous association of oak trees are on | | | | the worlds economic leaders, at the G-8 Summit. |
| the old plantations of the south. Innumerable | | | | The chronological order in which Sea Island, |
| forests of oak trees, neatly trimmed and | | | | Georgia memorial, and commemorative oaks |
| brimming with wildlife, nibbling away at the acorns. | | | | were planted and are presently growing there. |
| There are several classifications of oak trees: | | | | 1928: Calvin Coolidge planted the very first Live |
| Deciduous Varieties: Pin Oak Tree, Quercus | | | | Oak tree at Sea Island when the Cloister Hotel |
| palustris; Sawtooth Oak Tree, Quercus acutissima; | | | | opened for business. |
| Willow Oak Tree, Quercus phellos; White Oak | | | | 1931: Howard Coffin, the founder of The Cloister |
| Tree, Quercus alba; Water Oak Tree, Quercus | | | | at Sea Island planted a Live Oak tree to celebrate |
| nigra; Turkey Oak Tree, Quercus laevis; Swamp | | | | Georgia's founder and first Governor, James |
| Chestnut Oak Tree, Quercus michauxii; | | | | Oglethorpe. |
| Shummard Oak Tree, Quercus shummardii; Red | | | | 1946: Former President Dwight D. Eisenhower |
| Northern Oak Tree, Quercus rubra; Red Southern | | | | honored his visit to Sea Island by planting the |
| Oak Tree, Quercus falcata; and the Post Oak | | | | Eisenhower Oak Tree. |
| Tree, Quercus stellata. There are also Evergreen | | | | 1952: The Queen's Live Oak was planted by H.M. |
| Oaks: Laurel Oak Tree, Quercus laurifolia; and the | | | | Juliana Queen of the Netherlands. |
| Darlington Laurel Oak Tree, Quercus | | | | 1979: The President Ford Oak tree was planted |
| hemisphaerica. The two most famous however, | | | | by Gerald R. Ford on one of his many visits to |
| are Semi-Evergreen: Live Oak Tree, Quercus | | | | Sea Island, Ga. |
| virginiana; and Sand Live Oak Tree, Quercus | | | | 1981: President Carter Live Oak tree was planted |
| geminata. All of these varieties produce acorns | | | | by Jimmy Carter. |
| that vary in size from ½ inch to 1 ¼ | | | | 1991: G.H.W. Bush Live Oak was planted while the |
| inches. | | | | Bush's were on vacation at The Cloister on Sea |
| In locations where Oak trees are not commonly | | | | Island Georgia. |
| found, certain varieties can be planted to attract | | | | 1994: Lady Margaret Thatcher, former Prime |
| wildlife. Smaller nut varieties are fed on by | | | | Minister of Great Britain planted a Live Oak while |
| squirrels, and birds, and larger acorn varieties like | | | | on vacation at Sea Island with her husband Sir |
| the White Oak, and Gobbler Oak and Sawtooth | | | | Denis Thatcher. |
| Oak are eaten by deer, turkey, and boar. The | | | | 2004: President George Walker Bush planted a |
| White Oak tree is a great wildlife cultivar to plant | | | | Live Oak tree celebrating the hosting of the G-8 |
| because of its ability to ripen acorns within one | | | | Summit. |
| year, and its above average growth rate. The | | | | 2004: British Prime Minister Tony Blair planted a |
| Live Oak is commonly found in woods of the | | | | Live Oak to celebrate his presence at the Summit |
| Southeastern United States. Pine trees are also | | | | on Sea Island. |