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Think of it like going to the zoo – only with leaves.

(Do not enter the enclosure and please don’t feed.)

Path to the real Emerald City? (Image:©)

This old guy has it figured out. While many lesser humans prattle on about hydration, organics, integral training with short bursts of high energy plus yoga, and having deep roots in the community, he, well, it must be amusing to watch the warp speedy.

Although he will go along with the deep roots thing – and micro movement yoga. Talk about hot yoga, however, steams him up. Experience has shown him that too hot is a knotty situation.

After an unexpected – and unrequested – relocation, he had a little bit of a rough start.Well, he’s rally old, but knowing it’s better to bend than break, he’s now branched out and flourishing in his adopted land.

Besides seriously who doesn’t have a little jet lag after travel?

This is the Ghirardi Compton Oak that was dug up and moved like a giant’s bonsai  after the neighborhood was outraged the city and county wanted to chop it down for a road. Once the TV cameras showed up, the mayor and city council suddenly became tree lovers.

Barry Ward, executive director of Trees for Houston, believes this Compton Oak, well over 100 years old, is only one of two of its size and kind in all of North America.

Posts about that fight to save it (which he was most grateful for despite all the shaking. Besides he’s weathered many a storm.) The 2012 epic tree move:

• “Bored? sappy story. It’s on the moving” 
• “Heat arresting development. Treed” (progress of move)
• “Update: Ghirardi Compton Oak Landed”  (Final stage of move and it’s home. Photos. 2012)
• “Rooting for heart.” (For little kids who need to know nothing is impossible. An update.)
• “Growing pains the same” (OK. so it had a little fungus. In this climate, some toes get it, so why not a tree? Update. 2015)
• VIDEO. Watch the 100-year-old tree move 1500 feet. Quite a feat.

This is one celebrity that deserves a reserved parking spot.

Posts about the development of the park and pictures of the final product:

• “Senior Stretch. Ghirardi oak demonstrates” (Jan. 2013 update and a little about the park as it was in planning stage.)
• “Ghirardi Compton Oak Parks It.”  (2014. Pictures of the park and Moonshine Oak, with Compton Oak update )

And there’s a hill – manmade as those are was rare as hen’s teeth around here. Park has become a favorite spot for photo shoots with brides and family reunions. They hall in van loads of vintage props including velvet couches sometimes….just have to work around the dogs and running/rolling children.

To the right of the rail fence is property belonging to the eldest Ghirardi. He donated part of his remaining family farm for the park if they would just save the tree.  There are numerous huge perfect for kids to climb trees in the park (to the left) not to mention the Moonshine tree that’s really older and bigger. Yep, there used to be a still under it – for medicinal purposes…that’s why they guard it. (Image:©)

Like everything, the Ghirardi Oak started out small…it’s the one on the right. The tree-shaded a home belonging to one of the many Italian families who settled in the area: Sebastian Ghirardi and Domenia Fillippa (married in 1919).

Guess what? The original house was saved, too.

Moved to the historical area by the Butler Museum, the home waits like Cinderella for her enchantment to begin.

Ghirardi farmhouse. May not be a forest, but you can see the wood’s remaining.(Image: ©)

If they can save and move a giant 100 year old tree, this should be a snap, right? This time they nailed it.(Image: ©)

Displaying all the right moves

Phil, the Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge

 

 

 

 

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