
I’m grateful to Erin Moroney LaBelle for introducing this photographer. I’m a fan of bur oaks, so it’s a double delight for me that a treasured one became Mark Hirsch’s focus. They both have such a following!
“A lone bur oak may have forever changed the professional and personal life of one photographer in northeastern Iowa. In 2012, Mark Hirsch began a 365-day photographic journey with a single picture on his iPhone.”
CBS News (3 minutes)
Iowa PBS (10 minutes)

Coon Rapids Cemetery
One of my favorite cemeteries is the one at Coon Rapids, where my Wilson Iowa pioneers are buried. Filled with bur oaks!
Great post, Joy.
Thank you, GP! The cemetery where my Wilson immigrants are buried is filled with them, perhaps dating before Sam and Emily Wilson’s arrival in 1854!
Such noble trees.
Yes, Darlene, even without leaves.
Gorgeous! 🥰
What a great way to celebrate a tree!!
He sure got creative about it!
That’s a neat pic Mark put on his iPhone. The Bur Oak tree is a REAL tree-massive and strong. It’s not a diddly squat dwarf tree that dies when a dog pees on it. It’s the superman of trees-and a great inspiration for a journey! 🙂
He took a photo of it every day for a year! It’s a handsome tree whatever season.
I just saw the links and watched them. Wow-what a challenging commitment! His pics that were shown were magnificent.
I like the idea but would never follow through. Maybe one per month?
How about one per season? 🤣
A lovely story , Joy.
Thank you, John.
😊
Thanks, John!
Lovely post, Joy!
Thanks, Lauren.
It’s cool that a great photo of that magnificent tree gave the photographer a career.
365 great photos, and probably more since then!
Wow! 😃