Central Florida’s oldest living thing stands tall, lovely
COMMENTARY
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Whatever the reason, our mission is to get to the bottom things. Scientists say the oldest living things on the planet are bacteria, fungi and viruses that live more than a mile beneath the ocean floor.
The microorganisms could be millions of years old. Since Orlando is not located beneath the bottom of an ocean, we can probably rule out bacteria or fungi. That’s good, since hardly anyone cares much for bacteria or fungi.
When it comes to oldest living things in Orlando, here’s a hint:
Big Tree Park on Thornton Avenue. That big boy (or girl) is estimated to be 350 to 400 years old.
The circumference at its base is about 25 feet. The solid foundation came in handy when it was struck by lightning in 1972.
“Damage is extensive,” city parks superintendent Harold Danforth Jr. told the Sentinel at the time. ‘We are cleaning off the damaged bark and will spray it to keep the beetles away, then paint it and start praying it will survive.”
Those prayers were answered. If they hadn’t been, the oldest-thing crown would have passed to The Mayor.
That’s the 200-year-old oak on the grounds of Mennello Museum. Since oak trees mostly grow out instead of up, this beauty’s branches sprawl like tentacles to create a huge shaded canopy.
Urban myth has it The Mayor got its name when Dyer took his first oath office under the tree in 1867. We can categorically state that is not true since Dyer has