JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — At the Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens, a beloved local champion has fallen.
One visitor expressed the sentiment, saying, “It was so devastating because that's one of the favorite spots here in the Arboretum. People love coming back there and looking at it, and so we're really sad to lose such a historical tree.”
Executive Director of the Jacksonville Arboretum Dana Doody shared insight into the tree's demise, attributing it not to storms but, to the passage of time.
"Even through all the storms and everything, it was really age that did the tree in," Doody said.
What made this tree so special?
The significance of the tree lies in its status as a national champion. Doody elaborated on the tree's unique history.
“So, it's a great nature story of coming back from decimation," Doody told First Coast News. "When the Arboretum was being established, one of our board members, Led Hawkins, he was scouting the property to put in the trails and he came across this huge Gordonia, or Loblolly Bay as it's called. So, once he came upon it, he knew it was something special and submitted it for a national award. It has these beautiful white flowers with a gorgeous yellow center and it normally lives to about 65 years. This one, I think has lived quite a long time, and it's weathered a lot of storms.”
Interestingly, other trees of the same species on the property are still contenders for some of the country's largest.
"Actually, yes. We are looking at one of the trees on the Sand Ridge Trail that is a Gordonia, that might still be in the running to be a national champion," said Doody. "So, we're exploring that now."
What is the Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens?
The Jacksonville Arboretum was established with the goal of providing a natural space for the community to enjoy and learn about the diverse plant life native to Florida. The effort to create the arboretum gained momentum in the early-2000s with it being established in 2008.
For those looking to explore more than just the trees at the arboretum, there are additional events to enjoy.
"Starting on Black Friday through Dec. 29th, we're having a show called 'Dazzling Nights,' which is our light show for the holidays and it really is spectacular," Doody said. "We're so excited to be putting it on for our third year in a row, and it's going to be spectacular."