North Myrtle Beach Times Serving our Community and the Grand Strand for over 50 years
The North Myrtle Beach Tree City Board has selected a Live Oak on the property of Rayford and Karen Vereen for its Tree of the Month Award for November.
On Jan. 1, 1970, the Vereens set up residence on a one-acre lot off the beaten path between 11th and 8th Avenues North and between Merrill Place and Hillside Drive. Their house, which is constructed of recycled brick from a warehouse in Fairmont, N.C., is positioned to save a grove of Live Oaks, including the November Tree of the Month.
The tree is a focal point of their beautiful yard. The Vereens lovingly maintain it and others on their property. The shade from the tree provides an ideal setting for family and social gatherings and a peaceful resting place for several of their former pets.
The slow-growing Live Oak is native to coastal and southern regions of the United States from Washington State to Delaware. They can grow to 50 feet tall and, although it is rare, can have branches spanning 150 feet or more. They are evergreen and do well in sun or part shade.
Because transplanted trees typically take longer to establish and reach appreciable size and shape, mature trees saved during construction of a home or business have a head start. They also enhance property and its value.
Through their efforts to preserve and care for their award-winning tree and the grove it is part of, the Vereens show what is possible when people make tree preservation a priority.
The Tree of the Month program began in 2010 as a way to recognize preserved trees within the city limits. It also provides a platform to remind people of the benefits and importance that trees offer in our everyday lives.
Property owners and developers who are interested in finding out more about how they can preserve trees on their property are invited to contact the North Myrtle Beach Tree City Board at nmbtreeboard@nmb.us.
If you think you have the biggest, prettiest or most unusual tree in North Myrtle Beach, or that your tree has a unique story attached to it, the Tree City Board encourages you to contact Parks and Grounds Superintendent Jim Grainger at (843) 280-5571 or via email at nmbtreeboard@nmb.us.
