The Singing Oak

Pedaling around New Orleans City Park we happened upon one of the most unexpected delights ~ The Singing Oak. The Singing Oak was designed by artist Jim Hart as part of the "Big Lake Project" to make better use of the section of the park that neighbors (aka east of) the New Orleans Art Museum in City Park and adjacent to Big Lake.The large oak tree more than 100 years old with dozens of wind chimes hanging and yesss singing from its branches. FUN Fact: One of the chimes in the Singing Oak is 14 feet long!As you approach the majestic Singing Oak you instantly find peace and serenity as the wind chimes find perfect and purposeful harmony dancing above you. Sit down enjoy the performance along with the shade from the Singing Oak and the company of others and maybe a few geese or two.

Here's a prime example of why it pays to connect with locals when traveling. We'd already been interested in visiting City Park and perusing the New Orleans Museum of Art (which, alas, was closed the day we went), but we very likely would've missed out on experiencing the Singing Oak had we not been lured by its description from our friendly, lugubrious server at Superior Seafood a few nights earlier. Later, we mentioned our intent to explore City Park to the hostess at Preservation Hall, and she further refined our plans with advice to pick up some coffee and beignets from Café du Monde en route. My immediate reaction was, "Absolutely not." We'd already seen the absurd queues at all hours during our forays into the French Quarter; no caffeinated beverage or fried dough confection is worth that kind of commitment. JoJo patiently went on to explain there's another Café du Monde location in City Park--one without the throngs of rabid tourists. Local knowledge for the win, again!So, with iced lattes and a baggie of still-warm beignets in tow, we strolled across the sun-drenched grounds of City Park, past rows of shady trees, an architectural water feature, and shockingly few other humans to arrive at our destination. Honestly, if we hadn't intentionally sought out the Singing Oak, I wouldn't have even noticed it. It's unobtrusive, there aren't any obvious markings or signage, and, when we arrived, there was a single family with an infant resting in its shade. I could have easily mistaken it for any number of other stately, majestic trees we've seen all over town. It's not until you're up close and personal with this arboreal art installation that you can make out the various windchimes scattered among its branches. Their melodic, sporadic sounds don't carry terribly far over the background noise of running water, squawking geese, and humming insects.This is the kind of enchanting little spot that's easy to overlook, but would make a fabulous addition to anyone's neighborhood. If only I could whisk it away back to my own local park in NYC!

Also called the Chime Tree, this lovely giant oak shades a comfortable bench not far from the New Orleans Art Museum in City Park. It's named for the almost-hidden wind chimes placed throughout its branches by local artist Jim Hart. I loved taking a moment to sit here, cool down from a humid walk around the park, and listen to the soothing sounds of the breeze through the branches.