THE STORY OF A FOREST GIANT, THE BUR OAK. Once A Giant of A Tree.
This beautiful tree slice comes from the trunk of a giant bur oak tree that lived for more than 200 years. The bur oak stood proudly in Manchester Township in the southwest corner of Washtenaw County. In 2011, it was removed for safety reasons after being struck by a car.
This slice from the bur oak was saved by its admirers and protected as an artifact to be studied and enjoyed for years to come.
This slice from the bur oak was saved by its admirers and protected as an artifact to be studied and enjoyed for years to come.
Bur Oak Facts
– Grows throughout the Midwest
– Drought and fire resistant
– Can grow to 100 feet tall and 3-4 feet in diameter
– Wood is rot resistant and is used for railroad ties, fence posts, barrels, flooring, furniture, veneer and firewood
– In July 2012, the Dendrochronology Lab at Michigan State University used a high-powered microscope to count the rings
– The slice you see here was cut from the trunk 6 feet above the ground. The official ring count shows it reached that height in 1749
