The Spanish Oak was more than 100 years old and less than 200

Today the tree contractors took out the last of the two fallen oaks in the Japanese Woodland.

I took some closeups of the rings and will study them later. Even from this view there are some standout issues. What's with that red ring 25? years ago? And look how big the rings inside that are for a few years.....rainfall or irrigation? I'm betting irrigation. In my next life I'm going to be a dendrochronologist!

Jasminum parkeri

Pat Lynch planted this Jasmine between the base of the tree and the Bog Iron wall. I like the plant a lot though it isn't fragrant, I say with some trepidation; there's always someone who gets fragrance from every plant (e.g. Lonicera heckrottii, Jasminum nudiflorum, ...). Anyway it works well as a fine textured evergreen and the flowers are pleasantly attractive. Plus, I love the Bog Iron wall: local materials. Bog iron ore deposits are widespread in the Coastal Plain and adjoining areas of the Piedmont. It forms in palustrine environments and as our river wandered, it doubtlessly contributed to the formation of much Bog Iron.