White Oaks: A Long and Storied History
#MasterGardeners #MGNV #WhiteOak
If you are looking for generational impact in a living tree, consider Quercus alba (white oak).
quercus alba
TREE: Quercus alba (White Oak)
Tried and True Native Plant Selections for the Mid-Atlantic
Often dominant in the canopy, the State Tree of Maryland supports 80 birds/mammals and about 534 Lepidoptera species. The largest recorded US specimen, the 500-year old Wye Oak, was felled in Maryland in 2002. VNPS honored White Oak as Wildflower of the Year in 2011.
TREE: Quercus alba (White Oak)
Tried and True Native Plant Selections for the Mid-Atlantic
Often dominant in the canopy, the State Tree of Maryland supports 80 birds and mammals and up to 534 Lepidoptera species. How fitting that the largest recorded US specimen lived on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. At nearly 500 years old, the majestic Wye Oak fell in 2002. The Virginia Native Plant Society honored White Oak* as Wildflower of the Year in 2011.
Featured Glossary word: Marcescent
Featured Glossary Word: Mast
mast: nuts, seeds, or other fruits of some woody plants, including trees, shrubs, and vines, that serve as food for wildlife, especially when accumulated on the forest floor
The word mast comes from the Old English maest, meaning “fodder,” and is believed to be derived from a prehistoric German word meaning meat. The word was originally applied in agriculture to food provided by nature for domestic animals (particularly hogs but also cattle, sheep, goats, and even chickens) that foraged in the woods near homes and farms...In horticulture today, mast is divided into “hard mast” and “soft mast.”
Are You Lichen the Bark? Beautiful Bark
Part 1: Beautiful Bark
Where, beyond snow-covered landscapes, does one search in winter for wonders of the natural world? If one looks carefully at that which winter has laid bare, then the beauty of bark emerges. With no leaves to obscure the view, one can truly appreciate the varying colors, textures, and patterns of deciduous tree barks.