JARI HAGOOD: Albany’s oak canopies are majestic

I grew up in Albany and don’t get back very often, as most of my family is not there any more. It has saddened me to return many times because of historic buildings, trees, etc., no longer there.

Albany has no vibrant downtown, as most of the historic buildings were torn down for the school and government buildings there … and I could go on.

I was thrilled this past weekend upon taking a tour of “Old Beautiful Albany” (2nd-7th avenues west of Jefferson, basically) to see the beautiful oak tree canopies on many streets in the area and for many blocks. Where I live now we only have one street about three blocks long with a beautiful live oak canopy and Albany has many!

As a child growing up in Albany (40-plus years ago), the trees were there but not, of course, as large and mature as now. They are truly majestic!

I encourage everyone to take an interest in preserving these canopies that, once gone, will not be back. They will be replanted with smaller trees that will never grow to that majesty. As such, the small trees won’t interfere with power lines and other practical matters, but they will also not last as long or ever be as beautiful.

JARI HAGOOD

Ocala, Fla.