WAVELAND, MS (WLOX) -
Thirteen 100-year-old live oak trees that line Nicholson Avenue in Waveland have been registered with the Gautier Society of Des Arbres (society of trees) clearing the way to create a new tourism product for the city, using what's old.
"I was driving down Nicholson and noticed the beautiful stand of trees. There are 46 oak trees between the railroad tracks and the beach and this is something that is lovely to drive through or walk through so I thought we should capitalize on it," Waveland Alderman for Ward One Lili Stahler said.
Capitalizing on it started with having the oldest oaks registered through the Gautier Society of Des Arbres.
"Thirteen qualified for registration. They have to be over 100-years-old to qualify," Stahler said.
Trees are now more important than ever, since the city lost so many during hurricane Katrina, Stahler said. And the live oaks that create an umbrella over the roadway along Nicholson Avenue are a sight to behold.
"Several of the landowners adopted a tree and they've got naming rights and the trees now have plaques on them. The tree down the way is the Ruhr oak. We've got Quinlin oak one and two we've got one tree that's called Life is good. We've got some trees named after people's children, but with naming rights comes the responsibility of looking after your tree," Stahler said.
The Breland family adopted and named the one closest to their property.
"This is the first thing that people see when they come over the tracks and I'd like them to be pleased that they're driving down our street," Nicholson Avenue President Kearney Breland said.
"We're going to do a brochure with a walking trail. Off to the left of Nicholson Avenue is the Sweet Bay Hollow Bird Sanctuary and of course at the south end of Nicholson is the beach. We're developing a two mile walk, where this will be a starting place," Stahler explained.
If you think the live oak in your yard can qualify to be registered you can pick up a registration form from the Hancock County Historical Society.
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Live oaks line Nicholson Avenue in Waveland.
A plaque hung on a live oak bears the tree's name, Life is Good.
Anyone, who names a live oak is responsible for maintaining the tree.
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