Sapling Stories: Beryl's Beauties

Beryl's Beauties

This year, Leaf & Limb will be giving away very special White Oaks, named “Beryl’s Beauties.” These trees are named after Beryl Shaw, my dear Grandmama, who passed last year. Beryl deeply loved her community and spent the last 50 years of her life dedicating her time and money to help those in need.

Grandmama Beryl also loved her trees, being outside, and spending countless hours with her grandchildren. There is a majestic White Oak in her front yard that pre-dates the Revolutionary War. Under that sprawling tree, we would chat, ride on the rope swing hanging from the oak’s lowest branch, watch the sunset, and listen for owls at night. So much of my love for trees and my Grandmama is inextricably tied to that dear old oak.

Unfortunately, the majestic White Oak of my childhood will be cut down to make way for a new neighborhood. We tried everything we could to save the tree, but it just wasn't possible. So we did the next best thing. Last year, Leaf & Limb harvested thousands of acorns from this White Oak and planted them at Project Pando to preserve its legacy.

I’m excited to announce that we have close to 2,000 young saplings from this tree to give away this year!

We encourage you to continue the legacy of my Grandmama’s White Oak by planting one of Beryl's Beauties in your yard. We will be giving them away during the times listed at the end of this email.

Why White Oaks?

The White Oak happens to be one of the most ecologically-important trees here in the Southeast. They are known as keystone plant species because they provide so many benefits. First, they feed far more insects than most trees – something close to 1,000 different types of caterpillars alone, not counting all the other insects that feed on their leaves and bark. These, in turn, feed countless local and migratory birds. Second, acorns from oaks are full of protein, fat, and carbs – all of which are essential food for over 100 different types of vertebrates, including raccoons, deer, and chipmunks. Third, White Oaks provide homes for bats, birds, bees, and countless others. An oak tree is a neighborhood and grocery store for other walks of life all in one organism.

That’s only part of the story. White Oaks have massive canopies and root systems that sequester carbon, filter water, pull water into our aquifers, scrub pollutants out of the air, generate healthy topsoil, and cool down hot air during the summer. As a result, they provide exponentially more ecosystems services than any other native species.

Please stop by at one of the times listed below if you would like a "Beryl’s Beauty" of your own.