Certain thresholds of independence are major life milestones. Think getting your drivers license, buying a house, paying a debt (Dave Ramsey cheers from afar). And then there are the more ambiguous ones, like coming of age and those kind of things. A challenging task for any person, but what about a tree?
Yes, a tree. And this tree certainly had its independence to celebrate - it owns itself.
If you're familiar with the quirky Athens, Georgia you've probably heard of the Tree that Owns Itself (or by another name, the Tree Deeded to Itself.) In a fenced corner lot with a eight foot radius, Tree Jr. sits pretty, making acorns and dropping leaves all on its own.
I visited the giant oak tree, partially because I wanted to see this fantasticness for myself and also because I appreciate a good tree.
Let's back up a little for a quick history lesson. First, there are two trees. Col. William H. Jackson apparently loved Tree Sr. so much he deeded the tree's ownership and eight feet of land around it to the tree to itself in the early 1800's. That's according to the Athens Convention and Visitors Bureau website, which also notes the tree pays no taxes and its property rights have never been questioned.
The website also states Tree Sr., which suffered from disease, was blown down during a storm in the 1940's, but that was not to be the last of him. The Junior Ladies Garden Club grew a descendant sapling and in 1946, four years after the fall of Tree Sr., planted Tree Jr.
On the corner of Dearing and Finley streets, you can't miss the tree. For one, it's little spot sort of juts out into the road, and also, the tree has grown plenty since 1946. In Athens, if you're heading towards the University of Georgia on Broad Street, make a pit stop at South Finley and you'll see it at the intersection with Dearing. Much better directions are here.
So whether you're in the mood to celebrate some new found independence or if you just like trees, swing by the Tree that Owns Itself next time you're in Athens - especially if you can't wait until game day to go back.
Next week we'll check out another unsusual find in our weird world. So until next time... stay curious.
