Native Tree Society BBS

It is with my regeat that my family's "big oak tree" has had to resign as the Illinois State Champion Quercus velutina, Black Oak. At the time it was registered as the state champ, 2007, it was 70.7" circumference or 18.5' around, stood 85' tall and a average spread of 77'. My brother decided to bulldoze off about a 1-2 feet of top soil around it a couple of years ago to get rid of "anything with thorns", which inculded the the State Champion cockspur hawthorn, and that was the last straw that broke the camel's back. Today it is about 25' tall with one branch heading east, living, and another heading west, dead.

Beth

Beth,

We're very pleased to hear from you. It has been a long absence. Hope you are back into full big tree measuring mode. Sorry about the black oak.

Bob

I'm glad to be back. Health issues took me out for a long time. I'm still not up to par but I'm getting tuned up.

Beth