“I speak for the trees.” Celebrating Arbor Week with tree photos submitted by Bham Now readers

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Alabama Trees
Photo by Mike Hardig of the Constitution Oak (Q. virginiana) in Geneva County’s Fowler Park. In photo: Sally Hardig.

In celebration of Arbor Week,  Bham Now asked our readers to send us photos of their favorite trees throughout Alabama.  Below are the photos we received. They truly remind us of the quote from Dr. Seuss in the  The Lorax:

“I speak for the trees!”

Mike Hardig, a biology professor at the University of Montevallo sent us a photo collection of Alabama Champion Trees.  We will publish the entire collection at a later. date.  Here were our favorites.

Mike Hardig: “I was amazed by the number of champions that were sitting in plain sight, in front yards or next to intersections, probably passed by hundreds/thousands of people every day without a clue. It just didn’t seem befitting of their age and stature.”

Alabama Trees
Photo by Mike Hardig, Quercus geminata Mobile Co., Mobile, front yard of house at 4960 Moffett Rd.
Alabama Champion Oak
Photo by Mike Hardig, Quercus muehlenbergii Lauderdale Co., Rogersville, 30’ south of Blue Loop Trail.
Bald Cypress
Photo from Mike Hardig, Alabama Champion Bald Cypress. Taken in the  Mobile-Tensaw Delta region. In photo: Wes Cunningham (L) and Ted Metz (R)

Larry Beane: One of the largest pines in the Park (Little River Canyon National Preserve).”

Trees of Alabama
Photo by Larry Beane
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Photo of Larry Beane at Little River Canyon National Preserve

Eddie Johnson: “This is a Swamp Chestnut Oak at a bridge over the Tallapoosa River on County Road 84 near Heflin. There is a plaque at the base of the tree indicating it as the oldest of this species in the State. This photo does not do the massiveness of this tree justice. You’ll have to see it in person.”

 

Alabama Trees
Photo by Eddie Johnson of State Champion Swamp Chesnut Oak

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Elizabeth Goodrich: “One of my favorites, the Springs Gathering Tree.”

Trees of Alabama
Springs Gathering Tree

Pat Tiernan Morris: “I’m sending you this tree because I love it! It reminds me of the tree in “Go, Dog, Go”.  It is on Deo Dara Drive in Hoover.”

Tree Alabama
Photo from Pat Tiernan Morris

David Smith: Tree near Cahawba outside of Selma.

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James Clark: “Biggest tulip magnolia I have ever seen. Not a great picture. The blooms are just passed it peek. ”    The tree is in the Norwood Neighborhood in Birmingham at 13 Ave and 30th St.

Tree Alabama
Photo from Bham Now reader James Clark

Kevin McCallum: Tree in backyard on a ridge at Brook Highland in Shelby County

Alabama Trees
Photo by Kevin McCallum
Pat Byington
Pat Byington

Longtime conservationist. Former Executive Director at the Alabama Environmental Council and Wild South. Publisher of the Bama Environmental News for more than 18 years. Career highlights include playing an active role in the creation of Alabama's Forever Wild program, Little River Canyon National Preserve, Dugger Mountain Wilderness, preservation of special places throughout the East through the Wilderness Society and the strengthening (making more stringent) the state of Alabama's cancer risk and mercury standards.

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