looks like a very large flowering dogwood

Yes: Cornus florida. Good thing that guy is there to keep the one branch from snapping off.

Here's some others:

http://treesdb.azurewebsites.net/Browse/Species/Cornus%20florida%20%28Flowering%20Dogwood%29/Details

Beautiful isn't it

Looks juiced (bzzzt! bzzzt!) or snarly actually but I appreciate the size of it and the even distribution of the branches.

Tree is in great condition and yes I agree looks juiced. My hope of a national champion someday

This may be a dumb question, but what does juiced mean, in this context?

Electrified.

Not sure how people are IDing that w/so little detail.

If it IS a flowering dogwood, biggest I've ever seen. One at Swarthmore College had as big a trunk, but not crown.

Not sure how people are IDing that

Apart from characteristic bark flower heads are actually present.

biggest I've ever seen

For others to compare with see table at my link (above).

And as asked the Compton oak

Can take a better pic tommorrow if there is interest

Also found this water locust growing naturally in the woods yesterday

And Dave we have 3 beautiful Chinese evergreen oaks if that's what your looking for

I know where those Chinese evergreen oaks are! Near the Williamsburg Inn, right? Although I'm not convinced they are pure Q. myrsinifolia. Or perhaps they just display a slightly different leaf form than the ones I have.

Yes right by the inn and I myself questioned them only to find out they are Chinese evergreen. Touché to you for your interest

Can take a better pic tomorrow if there is interest. I like your pix and thank you for them. Right now something of interest in trees/shrubs is when they feature flowers or fruit. Send us Phoradendron flavescens , should be easy to find with fruits included.

Quercus phellos not even top 5 in va (willow oak)

That trunk is huge! good heavens!

thanks for Compton Oak pic, by the way!

Dave and anyone else, I got to see the compton oak in person last October, you have to see it in person. It is just so huge. It spreads just like a Live oak. The branching isn't as "open" up in the tree, but, it gets every bit the size, I'm happy I have several in my yard. If you haven't seen it you just have to, words can't do it justice, nor any picture. I think it was transplanted about 80 years ago, but, you'd think it's been hundreds of years ago, so dare I say, maybe some "hybrid vigor".