The Friendship Oak on Southeastern’s campus has been transformed into a revival landscape, Friendship Grove, to honor the longstanding tree and create space for new opportunities. SLU President William Wainwright kicked off the ceremonial recognition of Friendship Grove with a ribbon cutting on Dec. 18.
The preservation of the original Friendship Oak included measures such as filling in new soil and installing additional sidewalks to reduce foot traffic. With the oak aging, creating the grove alongside the tree’s branching legacy reinforces the heart of campus and invites new growth and tradition.
“It’s our time now to give back to Friendship Oak, and we’re doing that through the success of planting its clones, and we look forward to the next 100 years,” Wainwright said.
Five “clones” or rooted cuttings from Friendship Oak were planted alongside the tree’s seedlings, allowing for the new trees to mature together over time. The grove was created in partnership with Aramark and features two informational plaques on either side of the new green space: one commemorating the legacy of Friendship Oak and the other celebrating the vision of Friendship Grove.
“With the clones in place, we can further honor what Friendship Oak has given to our university and community,” Wainwright said.
The grove can now serve as a landmark for the SLU community, connecting its past to its future.
