What I did on my summer vacation, Part 2
Photo credit: Bill Gordon
I mentioned in yesterday's post that the island of Hilton Head looks like one great big perfectly manicured garden, and indeed that's what the town fathers have in mind. Approximately 70 percent of the island is located inside gated communities, and the grounds around them are gorgeously maintained.
Hilton Head is also well known for its "eco-friendly" development. The height of buildings and their placement is strictly governed to minimize their impact on trees. As a result, the island enjoys an unusual amount of tree cover.
Among the trees are these live oaks, which have grown to enormous size over hundreds of years of undisturbed living.
The first picture shows a live oak that was felled during a storm but managed to re-root itself to become the centerpiece of a public playground.
The second is a live oak in its more traditional shape.
Live oaks do not lose their leaves and thus provide a year-round canopy for this beautiful jewel of an island.
Comments
Well, that would explain the mystery! Fifteen or so years ago, when I was still married, we were in HH in very early March (golf) and the trees had leaves! I kept thinking, "Wow! Spring comes really, really early here!"
Posted by: Eve | July 30, 2009 8:34 AM