A few weeks ago, Ross and I headed down to Charleston with Tom and Val to listen to my cousin Mike Thompson sing. While we were there we decided to tour Boone Hall Plantation. For me, the best part of the tour was when we were driving up to the house under the Live Oak trees that lined the driveway.
As we drove, I imagined I was back in the 1800s, wearing a muslin dress and a bonnet upon my head , riding down the lane in an open horse drawn carriage, with my handsome suitor (Ross of course) sitting beside me. I can smell the sweet fragrance of newly budding flowers mixed with sea air. I can feel the cool breeze and bits of sun on my face, peeking through the branches. I can hear the birds singing, horses cladding, and workers chanting in the fields.
I sometimes think I was born in the wrong period of time. Although had I been born in that time period, I probably would not have been able to enjoy the daydreams as I do now.
Many believe the oak trees at Boone Hall were planted in 1843 by the Horlbeck brothers, who obtained the plantation from their uncle. Other sources state that the Boone family began the planting in 1743. The Avenue of Oaks is 3/4 of a mile long, evenly planted on both sides of the lane and lead up to the main house on the plantation. There were over 100 trees planted, but after Hurricane Hugo, only 88 remained.
When people think of a live oak tree, they imagine the Southern Live Oak, which is predominately seen in movies. The Live Oak is an evergreen tree that is found primarily in warmer areas. It was given the name Live Oak because it remains green in winter months where most other oaks are without leaves and look dead. The trees do shed their leaves, but only as new leaves are forming, so the transition is almost unrecognizable. Live Oaks require a large area to grow due to the fact that the branches grow outward. The crown can be three times as wide as the height. They are considered communal trees and when grouped together they form massive canopies.
Before iron and steel were used in ship making, Live Oak trees were used due to the short trunk and low branches to make the curved structural parts of the ship. In the curved branches, the line of grain would fall perpendicular to the stress line which in turn gives it superior strength. Ship makers would use live oak trees for parts such as knee braces. Live oak is still used today in some shipbuilding and toolmaking due to it's strength, energy absorption, and density. It is not used in furniture making because it tends to warp and twist when it dries.
As we drove, I imagined I was back in the 1800s, wearing a muslin dress and a bonnet upon my head , riding down the lane in an open horse drawn carriage, with my handsome suitor (Ross of course) sitting beside me. I can smell the sweet fragrance of newly budding flowers mixed with sea air. I can feel the cool breeze and bits of sun on my face, peeking through the branches. I can hear the birds singing, horses cladding, and workers chanting in the fields.
I sometimes think I was born in the wrong period of time. Although had I been born in that time period, I probably would not have been able to enjoy the daydreams as I do now.
Many believe the oak trees at Boone Hall were planted in 1843 by the Horlbeck brothers, who obtained the plantation from their uncle. Other sources state that the Boone family began the planting in 1743. The Avenue of Oaks is 3/4 of a mile long, evenly planted on both sides of the lane and lead up to the main house on the plantation. There were over 100 trees planted, but after Hurricane Hugo, only 88 remained.
When people think of a live oak tree, they imagine the Southern Live Oak, which is predominately seen in movies. The Live Oak is an evergreen tree that is found primarily in warmer areas. It was given the name Live Oak because it remains green in winter months where most other oaks are without leaves and look dead. The trees do shed their leaves, but only as new leaves are forming, so the transition is almost unrecognizable. Live Oaks require a large area to grow due to the fact that the branches grow outward. The crown can be three times as wide as the height. They are considered communal trees and when grouped together they form massive canopies.
Before iron and steel were used in ship making, Live Oak trees were used due to the short trunk and low branches to make the curved structural parts of the ship. In the curved branches, the line of grain would fall perpendicular to the stress line which in turn gives it superior strength. Ship makers would use live oak trees for parts such as knee braces. Live oak is still used today in some shipbuilding and toolmaking due to it's strength, energy absorption, and density. It is not used in furniture making because it tends to warp and twist when it dries.
I love the beauty of the tree. I love the fantasies and dreams they induce.
For me, I just want a bench under the branches, a good book, and my best friend beside me.
