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Our wind-shaped trees tell stories of hurricanes, nor’easters and centuries of constant salt breezes. As I show property to clients, often they comment “what happened to these trees?”

Cedars by the dunes

An uprooted Cedar in Salvo, fallen but thriving

Trees have symbiotic relationships with our Outer Banks communities. Once a barren sand bar, homes were built around the relative shade and shelter of trees. Soon communities grew. As the homes created physical wind breaks, the trees grew more plentiful.

Corolla Village 1948

Sand and few trees at first

Corolla Village present day

A forest has grown where once there was only sand

Did you know that without wind, trees end up being much weaker and aren’t able to survive for long? Wind stresses the trees and causes the roots to grow deep. I read something recently that said trees consider the wind a blessing because it helps them grow strong. That’s a strong analogy to the people who live on the Outer Banks.

TWISTED CEDAR

OCRACOKE LIGHTHOUSE

An Oak in the marsh

off Pea Island

Bent by the wind to the Light

Hatteras Lighthouse