Quercus virginiana   Did you know the first three forestry laws passed by American Congress were aimed at protecting live oak? Live oak was so valuable to America’s security that it prompted the government to take measures toward protecting it. It was widely used in shipbuilding. But when a secretary of the navy discovered that almost half the live oaks from southern coastal lands were gone —much of it exported to foreign nations —it prompted president John Adams to persuade congress to establish a plantation to grow future crops. The Naval Appropriations Act of 1828 allowed the navy to maintain oak forests for their exclusive use. A lot can be said about a tree so beloved it inspired the administration to preserve it. Once metal began to replace wood in shipbuilding, the live oak transitioned from a staple in vessels to a shade tree, and with good reason. The tree’s branches spread nearly twice the distance of its height and form rounded canopies, making it ideal in the heat of the south. What’s in a Name? The live oak earned its common name because it is one of a few broad-leaf trees that retains its green foliage year-round, similar to an evergreen. Other … Continue reading Live Oak: Heart of the Southern Landscape