By Mary Reid Barrow

Drone photos by Holly Utt, Atkinson Realty

If only the trees could talk.

“Hey, old sycamore tree,” said the ancient live oak at Bayville Farms Golf Course to its contemporary at the Francis Land House. “Can you believe it’s been more than 250 years since we defeated Cornwallis over yonder at Yorktown?”

“We were just young lads then, old man,” said the sycamore, nodding its branches.

“Yes, siree,” the live oak said. “Why I remember my grandpa telling me about the first settlers landing at Cape Henry not far from where I live. These whippersnappers today don’t know the half of it.”

“Amen to that,” affirmed the sycamore. “Why I was already 80 years old when Francis Land finally got around to building this old house and giving me a driveway to oversee!”

“At least it was quiet back then. No goldarned noise from those horseless carriages and flying machines,” the oak said. “Those were the good old days.”

We can’t give voice to the trees, but Brent James, LRNow’s Notable Tree Manager, is the next best thing. He will speak for the trees in the good old days on LRNow’s Grand Old Tree Tour, a visit to 10 LRNow Notable Trees, all 250 years or older, in the northern part of the city.

These are grand old trees that were growing here when the Declaration of Independence was signed and before. Tour participants are in for a treat because only the 300-year-old sycamore tree in the circular drive at the Francis Land House on Virginia Beach Boulevard is on public property. The rest are privately owned.

The van tour will be from 2 to 6 pm Sunday, July 12, leaving from the Bayside Recreation Center. Sign up here.

“If we mind our manners, old sycamore,” said the live oak. “We can teach these cheeky visitors a thing or two about our 250th anniversary.”

“Oh, mercy me, time does fly,” said the sycamore. “I’ll mind my Ps and Qs!”