America has the grandest trees on earth-the largest, the oldest and some of the most magnificent. Congress passed legislation designating the oak as the official national tree in November 2004. It reflected a vote by the National Arbor Day Foundation at its website.

"The oak tree will now be as much a symbol of America as Thanksgiving Day, Old Glory, the Star-Spangled Banner and the bald eagle," said U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska. "It's a fine choice to represent our nation's strength, as it grows from just an acorn into a powerful entity whose many branches continue to strengthen and reach skyward with every passing year."