I am currently taking Al Gore’s Climate Reality Leadership training along with a dedicated group of climate action activists. As an environmental advocate I would characterize myself as a “tree hugger”, but then realized I don’t think I have ever actually HUGGED a tree. I love trees,  grew up climbing them, building tree forts in them, collecting their leaves and making scrapbooks. I love picnicking under them, am always thankful for their shade on a hot summer day. I used to fearlessly soar from rope swings into swimming holes, I’ve listened to the birds and watched the wildlife that calls trees and their branches their home. I have never lost my youthful delight of trees and as I grow older have come to appreciate the many important roles that trees play in our life and the life of our planet even more.

Recently my daughter gave me a beautiful book from 1909 “Trees Every Child Should Know” by Julia Ellen Rogers. Within the 100 year old yellow pages are photos and rich descriptions of trees.  I look forward to using it to educate my new grandson as we learn to identify the trees on the ranch and to recognize and appreciate the beauty and unique characteristics of the trees that make up our “RiverCrest Ranch”. Here  nestled along the beautiful Applegate River in Southern Oregon we have almost 30 species of trees.  From the Oregon State Tree the Douglas Fir, to the towering Ponderosa Pines, Willow trees along the irrigation canals,  a myriad of fruit and flowering trees, spectacular maples that burst with color in the fall, amongst Dogwoods, Magnolias, and others. But one tree stands out uniquely. It is an old, gnarly, grey behemoth that defines the crest of the dry knoll it inhabits. The tree is an Oregon White Oak,  Its branches reach out like  massive arthritic arms twisting, contorting. Her leaves broad, leathery with large rounded lobes. Its acorns plentiful at times, scant other seasons and one wonders if this portends the severity of the approaching winter.

This majestic mother oak, surrounded by small diameter younger oaks representing the generations that have followed. This tree has character, has history and has seen much over her life in this beautiful river valley. This Mother Oak was here when the valley and river were home to the Takelma, Shasta and Tututni indigenous people. The tree saw the arrival of the pioneers and the region’s namesake, Jesse Applegate, in 1846. This tree watched the arrival of the gold miners in 1851 and the Chinese miners coming to the Applegate in 1853. This majestic Mother Oak watched as her back yard was hydraulically mined for gold through the 1870’s. She stood tall and proud as Oregon became a state in 1859 and watched as irrigation ditches were carved along the land as mining operations were replaced with farming.

This tree has seen much, and tolerated it all. She withstood the driest of years, stood her ground through the most severe windstorms, record rains, heavy winters. She watched as lightning struck, other trees and  nearby forests burned. She survived, she thrived, and now after 450 years, this tree still stands alive !!!!!! This tree deserves a hug !!!!!!!!!

Post by Cathy Rodgers