ENTS, After doing the Big Oak at Grosse Tete, we
drove north a 1/4 mile along Hwy 77 and measured several more
Live Oaks. The Fannie May Oak 1, CBH- 23' 7", Height-66' and
Spread-138'. The Fannie May Oak 2, CBH-23' 2", Height-72' and
Spread-126', next another 1/4 up to the Bank of Maringouin Oak,
CBH-26' 2", Height-63' and Spread-112.5'. All of these oaks are
200 years+ and there where several more 20 footers around this
location we just did the larger ones.
We then proceeded towards Layfayette for a needed pitstop. We
stayed the night and were up early the next moring for another
round of Live Oak measuring. Our next stop was St. Martinville
to measure the Evangeline Oak and the Gabriel Oak. The
Evangeline Oak, CBH-19', Height-51' and Spread-90'. The Gabriel
Oak, CBH-20' 3", Height-55.5' and Spread-109.5'. The Evangeline
Oak was made famous by Longfellows story of two lovers. So, its
an Historic tree but not a huge Live Oak, but I measured it
anyway.
Next we went south to New Iberia where there were dozens of
Live Oaks aligning the roadway into town. We saw some 20 footers
and a few 22+ along the way but no monsters. Perhaps I can come
back at a later date and continue down to Morgan City, New
Iberia, Lake Charles,etc.
Our last stop of the day before the rain started was the
Magnificient Oak at St. Johns Cathedral in Layfayette. A well
cared for tree growing beside the Cathedral. I attained
permission from the Pastor to enter the locked gate to measure
and photograph this giant. CBH-30', Height-55.5' and Spread-150'
X 153'. A tree close to 300 years old, the largest we did on the
trip.
On the way home I stopped in Mandeville, to get a remeasure
on the Seven Sisters Oak for my updated listing. The last time I
measured it I did it wrong, this time I measured the Trunk below
the limb splits for a more accurate Cir., at about 2' above the
ground. So to
conclude my trip we measured 11 new Live Oaks, 1 Pecan, 1 Pond
Cypress, and the remeasure of the Seven Sisters Trunk. I had a
great time and plan to go back at a later date.
Larry
