Visit a 600-Year-Old Tree in NJ Before it Falls

Take a look at this White Oak tree for proof that native trees should be prioritized over non-natives. At 600 years old, this tree's life finally has come to an end. Meanwhile, those living in developments built in the '70s are already losing the Bradford Pears lining the streets.We're planning to make the hour-long trip up to Basking Ridge to see this beauty in real life before it's cut down in the spring. It's just too amazing to miss out on, especially because it's here in our little state.That reminds me: If you ever need a reminder that us humans are just passing through and the longer-living species among us deserve more respect than we often give them, check out The Oldest Living Things in the World, a beautiful book by Rachel Sussman. I found it at Inkwood Books in Haddonfield.While up north checking out the oak tree, we'll head over to Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. It's an 8,000-acre refuge that includes a 3,660-acre Wilderness Area that became the first of its kind in 1966 within the Department of the Interior. It's an example of what the hard work of some passionate environmentalists can accomplish, as it was local residents battled the Port Authority of NY and NJ in court to prevent them from turning it into a regional airport.