Answers to Your Questions

Here are answers to some of the questions we're often asked about the recent tree devastation in Winter Park, about the City's ability to pay for replacement trees, and about Winter Park Live Oak Fund, Inc.

Question: What's so important about Live Oaks? Why not just replace the Laurel Oaks and Water Oaks we had before?

Answer: Three reasons: storm survivability, tree canopy and lifespan. Let's take lifespan first. While a Water Oak has a lifespan of only 40 to 50 years or so, a Live Oak can live 200 years or more, with 150 years or more not at all uncommon in an urban environment. The “Seven Sisters Oak” in Lewisburg – Mandeville, Lousiana is believed to be the oldest North American Live Oak, with an age estimated at 1,000 years.

The Live Oak is also an unusually sturdy tree, with the hardest and most dense wood of any oak species. As Bill Finch, gardening columnist for the Mobile Register, has written, “Live Oaks were born and bred for hurricanes ... and in some areas, they may be the only trees left standing when a hurricane blows through.”

And finally, tree canopy. Live Oaks produce a very broad and lush tree canopy of the sort that's just perfect for our road right-of-way placements. The mature Live Oak is renowned for the graceful appearance of its massive, often nearly horizontal main branches.

Question: Can't the City of Winter Park save time and get more trees for the same money just by purchasing smaller trees?

Answer: Well, yes... and no. The City already has a policy in place of harvesting and purchasing trees that are generally about two inches in diameter. Naturally, one drawback of this policy is that smaller trees will require several more years to restore the city's tree canopy. The Winter Park Live Oak Fund's organizers, on the other hand, are committed—subject to availability—to planting at least six-inch diameter trees, which will regenerate our tree canopy several years earlier than their two-inch counterparts.

Question: What's the big hurry? Oak trees take years to grow to maturity.

Answer: That's true, but the tree devastation that resulted from the 2004 hurricane season was so widespread that the tree farm supply of large diameter trees (six inches and up) is already virtually exhausted. Add to this the fact that the City of Winter Park has very specific specifications for acceptable Oak tree species, and the potential supply sources are pretty much limited to Florida. If we do not move quickly, we simply won't be able to purchase desirable trees, at any price.

Question: Why are you using a separate organization to collect money?

Answer: While the Winter Park Live Oak Fund, Inc. is organized as a Florida nonprofit corporation, the organization is very new and we might experience significant delays in obtaining tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service. Our strategic alliance with the Community Foundation of Central Florida ensures that contributions for our Live Oak tree program will be fully tax deductible. And too, using the Community Foundation offers us other valuable benefits:

fuduciary oversight of funds collected and spending
substantial experience in nonprofit governance and best practices
networking opportunities within the Central Florida philanthropy community
compliance with state and federal fundraising regulations

Don't see your question answered here?

Call us at 407-599-3509 and we'll get back to you as soon as possible with the answer to your question.

back | home | top



Answers to Your Questions Here are answers to some of the questions we're often asked about the recent tree devastation in Winter Park, about the City's ability to pay for replacement trees, and about Winter Park Live Oak Fund, Inc. Question: What's so important about Live Oaks? Why not just replace the Laurel Oaks and Water Oaks we had before? Answer: Three reasons: storm survivability, tree canopy and lifespan. Let's take lifespan first. While a Water Oak has a lifespan of only 40 to 50 years or so, a Live Oak can live 200 years or more, with 150 years or more not at all uncommon in an urban environment. The “Seven Sisters Oak” in Lewisburg – Mandeville, Lousiana is believed to be the oldest North American Live Oak, with an age estimated at 1,000 years. The Live Oak is also an unusually sturdy tree, with the hardest and most dense wood of any oak species. As Bill Finch, gardening columnist for the Mobile Register, has written, “Live Oaks were born and bred for hurricanes ... and in some areas, they may be the only trees left standing when a hurricane blows through.” And finally, tree canopy. Live Oaks produce a very broad and lush tree canopy of the sort that's just perfect for our road right-of-way placements. The mature Live Oak is renowned for the graceful appearance of its massive, often nearly horizontal main branches. Question: Can't the City of Winter Park save time and get more trees for the same money just by purchasing smaller trees? Answer: Well, yes... and no. The City already has a policy in place of harvesting and purchasing trees that are generally about two inches in diameter. Naturally, one drawback of this policy is that smaller trees will require several more years to restore the city's tree canopy. The Winter Park Live Oak Fund's organizers, on the other hand, are committed—subject to availability—to planting at least six-inch diameter trees, which will regenerate our tree canopy several years earlier than their two-inch counterparts. Question: What's the big hurry? Oak trees take years to grow to maturity. Answer: That's true, but the tree devastation that resulted from the 2004 hurricane season was so widespread that the tree farm supply of large diameter trees (six inches and up) is already virtually exhausted. Add to this the fact that the City of Winter Park has very specific specifications for acceptable Oak tree species, and the potential supply sources are pretty much limited to Florida. If we do not move quickly, we simply won't be able to purchase desirable trees, at any price. Question: Why are you using a separate organization to collect money? Answer: While the Winter Park Live Oak Fund, Inc. is organized as a Florida nonprofit corporation, the organization is very new and we might experience significant delays in obtaining tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service. Our strategic alliance with the Community Foundation of Central Florida ensures that contributions for our Live Oak tree program will be fully tax deductible. And too, using the Community Foundation offers us other valuable benefits: fuduciary oversight of funds collected and spending substantial experience in nonprofit governance and best practices networking opportunities within the Central Florida philanthropy community compliance with state and federal fundraising regulations Don't see your question answered here? Call us at 407-599-3509 and we'll get back to you as soon as possible with the answer to your question. back \| home \| top
The Winter Park Live Oak Fund is a public-private partnership endorsed by the City of Winter Park. ©2004–2005 Winter Park Live Oak Fund, Inc., a Florida corporation. All rights reserved. Live Oak logo design by David Weaver, based upon an original image by noted photographer Ralph A. Clevenger. Website design by