Talk:Linden Oak

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The plaque at the tree says it is the fourth biggest white oak in Maryland. That would be third now that the Wye Oak is down. The National Registry of Big Trees lists a tree in Virginia as the biggest white oak in the US http://www.americanforests.org/resources/bigtrees/register.php?details=549 . Is there a source for saying this is the largest white oak in the country?Rjones1 13:58, 20 July 2007 (UTC)

Hi, I found several sources for the Linden Oak being the largest white oak since the death of the Wye Oak:

Oak: The Frame of Civilization by William Bryant Logan

Answers.com http://www.answers.com/topic/wye-oak

Reference.com http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Wye_Oak

Of course all these articles appear to cite each other as a source, so I am not sure now. Is the plaque at the tree dated?

Best regards

I checked again, and there are several plaques. One just says it is the oldest white oak in Montgomery County. One is from 1976, mentions Ida Mae Garrett getting the Metro tracks moved around the tree, and says it is the fourth largest white oak in Maryland. It also lists a height of 95 feet and a crown spread of 132 feet. The Wye Oak was 96 and 119, so that's pretty comparable. The National Champion I mentioned above is 86 and 116, so it seems like it's not really a National Champion, and the Linden Oak could replace it.

Did some more investigating, this page shows the criteria for National Champion trees: http://www.dnr.state.md.us/forests/trees/bigtree.html

At the top of the page is a link to the 2005 Maryland National Champions, and the Linden Oak doesn't seem to be on it. There are two trees taller than the Linden Oak, but with a smaller crown. I don't know the circumference of the Linden Oak so we can't really compare. Richard

HI Richard,

Thanks so much for all your effort and trouble. I want the article to be accurate but it seems that there is no real consensus. Maybe the article should simply reflect this; that by some reckonings the Linden Oak is the lartgest White Oak. I also think it is important to mention Ida Mae Garrett. What are your thoughts?

Quarterczar 20:54, 25 July 2007 (UTC)John


That sounds good to me.

I am thinking about measuring the circumference and nominating it for National Champion. If that works out, I will let you know what they say.

Thank you, Richard


There's an article in today's Post http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/27/AR2007122702624.html?sub=AR that is about another white oak in Maryland that is being declared Maryland's largest. Richard —Preceding unsigned comment added by Rjones1 (talk • contribs) 17:51, 28 December 2007 (UTC)

I saw the article and thought of you. I'd love to see their tree but I wonder if it actually beats this one. Did you ever nominate the Linden Oak? Quarterczar (talk) 22:48, 31 December 2007 (UTC)