The Mighty Oaks

The game has begun and we’re off to a good start. We have some real all-star players this year and they’re ready to learn some trees! I’ve heard our football team is doing pretty well too! I’m a teaching assistant this semester for Dr. Ponders arboriculture class and as always the opening season game was the mighty oaks.

The train is already picking up speed and we’re now into the hickories, but the oaks will always be my favorite. This summer I was able to be part of the team that assisted Dr. Keever in propagating the poisoned Toomer’s Oaks. I helped stick some of the over 3,000 cuttings taken from rhizomic shoots after the trees had to be cut down. I never did roll the trees during my time at Auburn though I’ll never forget being at the final A-day celebration roll. Being able to help with the oaks propagation was a really amazing opportunity to preserve one of Auburns traditions.

Helping with arboriculture has also been a great experience. I guess I’m what you would call a soft spoken person so it’s been a great opportunity for me to learn how to teach. The professors here at Auburn are an amazing resource and it’s great to be able to help inspire the next generation of horticulturists.

Thanks for reading and as always, have a great tree day!