Southern red oaks have glossy ... The mature tree has deeply textured light gray bark, similar to a chestnut tree. This magnificent oak has a striking presence with horizontal branch intersections ...
Honorable mention--the magnolia: This Southern tree can be a positive ... beautiful whether it's residential or a street tree, and a huge white oak is a great asset to any landscape.
Readers of this column aren't surprised to see me writing about trees, since I often praise their planting and fuss at those who would indiscriminately cut them down. But this time I am going to stop ...