An Icon Of The Old South

This gorgeous Live Oak (Quercus virginiana) - also known as the southern live oak, an evergreen oak tree native to the southeastern United States - is located at Alamo Plaza, within The Alamo historic complex.

The informational plaque near the tree says:

"In the early part of the twentieth century, many San Antonio residents believed it was impossible to transport full-grown trees.  Walter Whall - a retired English seaman - started San Antonio's first tree moving company and proved it could be done.  He carefully removed the earth from around the roots of the tree to be moved and then used a block and tackle to lift it out of the ground.  They transported the mature trees through the streets on a wagon pulled by four mules.  Whall contended that the hardest part of moving a full-grown tree was avoiding power and telegraph lines.

This Live Oak was approximately forty years old when Whall brought it to the Alamo around 1912.  The base of the century-old tree now measures twelve feet in circumference while its main branches are over fifty feet long."

Click the panoramic photo below to enlarge and see the beauty of this tree.

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2018: Free Spirits
2017: May Your Guiding Light Be Strong
2016: Rock The Moc
2015: Hustle And Bustle In Ancient Guatemala
2014: The Flakes Got Up Early And Stayed All Day
2013: Headed For A Slow Boat To China
2012: A Roaring Forties Tasmanian Devil Of A Blue
2011: Waiter! There’s A Beer In My Soup!
2010: I’d Rather Go Naked Than Wear Wolf
2009: Eddie Getting His Licks Friday
2008: The Place Is In Ruins
2007: Winter Shadows
2006: The Angels Of The New York D.O.T.
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!