On the facing page is a swamp white oak (Quercus bicolor)
in downtown Columbia. O'Brett says, "It is a wonderful
tree for urban landscapes and I've noticed it becoming
universally favored in the Midwest for its attractiveness,
vigor, and ease of transplanting. Other oaks of course should
be added to the palette; one that has caught my attention
recently is the native overcup oak (Quercus lyrata) (shown on
this page)—a fast grower and worthy of broader use." Photos
by Brett O'Brien, who cites bur oak (Q. macrocarpa) as
another tough oak (Columbia's historic Big Tree is a bur oak.)
34 CityTREES