Czechia Votes for "Tree of the Quarter Century": 13 Finalists in the Running

Czechia is holding a vote for the title of "Tree of the Quarter Century" — a special anniversary edition of the foundation's survey dedicated to the country's most remarkable trees. Voters can choose among 13 finalists until October 5, with the winner to be announced on October 20 at the planetarium in Brno as part of Tree Day celebrations.

Oaks Lead the Pack

Oaks dominate the finalist list, with four trees in the running. Oldřich's Oak from the Ústí nad Labem Region, last year's winner, is tied to a legend about the meeting of Prince Oldřich and Božena. The Lukavice Oak from the Pardubice Region survived hurricane Kyrill and several attempts to cut it down. The Guardian Oak from Višňová in the Liberec Region became a symbol of rescue during devastating floods, while rounding out the group is an oak from the tree-lined avenue in Skaličky in the Olomouc Region.

Lindens, Fruit Trees, and Conifers

The Czech Republic's national tree, the linden, is represented by two specimens from the Pardubice Region: the six-trunked linden from Zamrsk and the so-called Singing Linden of Telecí, linked to an old legend about singing heard from within its crown. Fruit trees are represented by an apple tree near the Lidman family homestead and a pear tree standing alone in an open field — a survivor of agricultural land consolidation, notable for its unusual crown shape.

Among conifers, three trees are competing for the title: the Hudobín Pine from the Vysočina Region near the Vír Dam, the only Czech tree ever to win the "European Tree of the Year" contest; the Opatovice Pine from the South Moravian Region, resembling a six-headed dragon; and the Pernštejn Yew, said by legend to have guarded Pernštejn Castle for nearly a thousand years.

An Ash and a Beech Round Out the List

Completing the list of finalists are the Popov Ash from the Karlovy Vary Region, a reminder of a once-thriving German settlement in the now-vanished village of Popov, and a beech tree by the church in Jihlava, originally nominated by local grammar school students.

Starting September 29, the traditional super-final round begins, in which votes are tallied confidentially among the top five trees. Organizers will reveal the winner of this milestone 25th edition of the contest on October 20 at the Brno Observatory, in celebration of Tree Day.

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Around Prague, based on reporting by ekolist.cz