As we begin a new year working with ancient trees, we want to pay our respects to one of the most important ancient oak trees in Lexington. We were able to carefully preserve the tree during development, and today it is thriving. Here is a photographic tribute to the Old Schoolhouse Oak. I hope it has many more years, perhaps centuries, to look forward to. If you wish to visit the tree, here is a map.
Old Schoolhouse Oak during initial inspection
Tree protection zone fencing around the tree
Old Schoolshouse Oak before land clearance
Structure of Old Schoolhouse Oak
The tree at dawn
The Old Schoolhouse Oak with the cadre of tree measurement experts from American Forests
Using an air knife to inspect roots.
The Old Schoolhouse Oak in winter.
A seedling of the Old Schoolhouse Oak. The tree is reproducing well.
The tree in late autumn
The tree in late autumn
The tree from Military Pike on a dark and stormy day.
The tree in winter.
The tree with its 3/4 acre protection zone of mulch.
The tree from Military Pike, during construction
The tree, well mulched, overlooking the Firebrook subivision.
A woodchuck burrow beneath the tree