Sweet Briar's Fletcher Oak, Spring-Summer 2001

By the summer of 2001 the Fletcher Oak was in serious decline.  It had suffered an accumulation of stresses in the previous decade, including a Phytophthora fungal disease, soil compaction, and the 1999 drought of the century.  The Fletcher Oak surprised many of us by the persistence with which it clung to life before toppling in August 2005.

Fletcher Oak bark: Click on image for enlarged view

 

The Fletcher Oak on 5 April 2001

On 20 August 2001 dead wood was removed from the south side of the Fletcher Oak, and several branches on the still-healthy north side were pruned to lighten the load on the trunk. 3 August 2001 (above); 20 August 2001 (below) 3 August 2001 (above); 20 August 2001 (below)

Click here for photographs of the Fletcher Oak from the 1970's and 1980's

URL: //nature.sbc.edu/treepics/fletcheroak2.html       email:lfink@sbc.edu

This site is maintained by Professor Linda S. Fink  (434) 381-6436
Department of Biology
Sweet Briar College, Sweet Briar VA 24595
Last updated:10 August 2005
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