Middleton Oak and Angel Oak

[James Parton]

I have not visited the tree since back on 07. I am well overdue to visit it again. I don't think I have ever seen a prettier tree. It's name certainly fits it.

[Neil]

Hi Larry,

Yeah, live oak grows so much faster than many folks suspect. Here is our past discussion on the topic:

http://www.nativetreesociety.org/fieldt ... k_ages.htm

I do not have too much to add except that there is a new, more-rigorous, exploratory tree-ring analysis of live oak. You can download the paper here:

http://web.utk.edu/~grissino/downloads/ ... 202012.pdf

neil

[bbeduhn]

I spent some time with both trees last week. My first acquaintance with the Middleton Oak was on the garden tour. I saw it from afar and thought that it couldn't be THE oak. It was, but not in its former glory. It had really lost an awful lot of volume. First, I'll list the missing trunks/limbs and then come the measurements.

These are approximations:
2' d 1.5' x 2.5' d 3' d 3.5' x 4.5' d 3.5' x 4' d

32'10" cbh No real growth since Eli measured it two years ago (32.81').

The brochure states a cbh of over 37 feet, with a height of 85 feet and a spread of 145'. I measured at 7' and 3' as well just for kicks and grins. The 37'+ figure claimed on the brochure must have been the max circumference at about 8' or so. I got 36'8" @ 7' and 33'0" @ 3'.

I got a spread of 126.75' For some reason, I forgot to get a height but I assume it hasn't changed much from Eli's 65.4'. The spread was 126' two years ago, so only a slight change.

I inquired about what was actually known about the tree and was told that it was a Native American trail marker when the first home was built in 1705. However, many records were destroyed during the Civil War, so that is likely oral tradition. The lady who is best versed on the history of the gardens is in the hospital and is quite well on in age. apparently, she likes being the one in the know and hasn't shared everything that she knows with the other docents. If the story is true, it could place the tree in the 400 year range.

The Angel Oak looks to be in outstanding health. I got a height measurement of 62.9', a spread of 163.8' (a little shy of its true spread) and a cbh of 28'1". last year I got 28'0", showing one inch of growth. For spread, I measured 18 roughly even spaced spots about the tree. This is overkill but shows how it plays out and many spots instead of just 4.
My spread figures not including the tree diameter:

105' 105' 102' 96' 84' 84' 82.5' 72' 69' 61.5' 61.5' 60' 51' 49.5' 52.5' 63' 91.5' 103.5'

These figures are simply what the laser showed, so they are a little shy of the true spread. I had a 2 year old and a 6 year old with me. They enjoyed following me around and playing with the instruments but I wasn't able to lay out tape to get a truly accurate spread length. Eli's 165' spread from two years ago may well have grown a bit.
I got two other heights at the Angel Oak:

loblolly pine 94'
laurel oak 92.5'

The Angel Oak is named after the family who used to own the property. I have pictures of both oaks and will post them soon. I'll start a new thread about Middleton Place.
Brian

[Larry Tucei]

Brian, Great job on all the measuring. I'm looking forward to your photographs of the two great Live Oaks. (: Larry

[bbeduhn]

The Middleton Oak.

[bbeduhn]

The Angel Oak.

Budding tree measurers

[edfrank]

Brian,

I am glad to see you got your picture posting problems straitened out.

Ed

[eliahd24]

Fantastic job Brian! Great seeing those trees again... makes me want to head back to Charleston soon.

[Larry Tucei]

Brian, Great looking photos. I love the photos of your helpers! The last image of the Angel Oak really gives the great size of this tree! Even though the Middleton Oak has lost two major limbs it is still a fantastic tree. When you get back to the Angel Oak see if you can measure the longest limb. I've measured limbs on a few Live Oaks to 89' and they were on the ground like the Angel Oak. Larry

[bbeduhn]

Larry, the longest limb is over 105'. Eli measured it to 105' in 2010. I lasered it to at least 105'. It's likely 106+'. I'll lay down tape next time I get there to get an exact reading.