Great Oak

We've got roots... and branches!

If Boxerwood had a mascot, it would be the Great Oak. This tree has watched over countless education programs, meditative walks, storytelling sessions, photographs, and even a few weddings. This Shumard Oak (Quercus shumardii) was here long before Dr. Munger purchased the property in the 1950s. The environment was almost certainly open farmland here at one point and this was probably a lone shade tree in the pasture. We think that this tree is two or three stems that were growing close together and finally merged into what appears to be one main trunk. 

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During a summer thunderstorm in July 2021, one of the main limbs and part of the trunk of the Great Oak fell. We utilized the largest branch to create a sitting/climbing area around the great tree, and the smaller branches became firewood. The Great Oak has been cabled by professional arborists to keep other large branches from breaking under the weight imbalance of the tree. ​The holes in the tree and its many crooks and crevices have become a thriving housing complex for insects, birds, small mammals, and probably even a snake or two. Scientists note that oak trees support over 4,000 different species of insects and other animals. Our Great Oak is like a whole ecosystem itself, providing food and shelter for countless organisms. In addition to being a biodiversity magnet, this tree also sequesters carbon, filters water, provides shade, and beauty for us all.

After the storm, we kept the large pieces of the fallen branch and cut them into sections for seats and for climbing. This is another area where children can climb, play, and use their imaginations.