The Tree of Life, also known as the Étienne de Boré Oak, is a large, historic southern live oak (Quercus virginiana) in Audubon Park in New Orleans, Louisiana. Adjacent to Audubon Zoo's giraffe exhibit, the old and popular park landmark was planted around 1740.
The tree is commonly hugged and climbed. Its crown is draped with Spanish moss. The tree's size and age led it to become one of the 43 inaugural members of the Live Oak Society.
History The tree is said to have been planted by Étienne de Boré, the first Mayor of New Orleans, in 1771, as a wedding gift to his wife. However, this is just a rumor, as a sign adjacent to the tree says that it was planted around 1740.
References
External links I Saw in Louisiana a Live-Oak Growing, a poem by Walt Whitman about the tree that was included in his collection Leaves of Grass (on Wikisource)