We recently took our family vacation to Charleston, SC (my all time FAVORITE city!) As always, I not only visited some of the worlds most beautiful gardens, but also this famous wonder of nature, the Angel Oak. I took the photo below of our visit. Take a look at this gorgeous specimen, which is reported to be somewhere between 400 and 1000 years old!

The Angel Oak is a Southern Live Oak, or Quercus virginiana. It resides at Angel Oak Park, on Saint John's Island, just outside of Charleston. While the shape and habit of this tree DO resemble an angel outstretching their wings, the tree actually acquired its name from the previous owners of the site, Martha and Justin Angel.

Great measures by the local citizens to protect this natural wonder. They banded together, raised funds and purchased the surrounding 18 acres of land surrounding the tree as a sanctuary.

Although damaged by Hurricane Hugo, the tree has survived and continues to be a local gem of the Charleston area. If you are traveling in the area, you must stop and see this!

ANGEL OAK PARK
3688 Angel Oak Road
Charleston, SC 29455

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About the Author:

Lori Hawkins, RLA, ASLA has been a registered landscape architect and active in the landscape design/build industry for over 29 years. For additional inspiring project pictures, design ideas, or great garden gifts, take a look at these websites:

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