Ode to Oaks

The trees that sustain wildlife

@Seema

Much before arriving in the USA, while reading fairy tales as a kid, whenever I came across the phrase giant oak tree, I dreamt of seeing one in real life. In India, oaks are rare, so my wish remained unfulfilled for almost two decades.

When I came to California, I was delighted to see so many new and fascinating plants: sycamore, sweetgum, magnolia, carrotwood, weeping fig, olive, Brazilian pepper, and many more.
But the oak remained elusive.

Then one day, I spotted a Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia).

Then a Cork Oak (Quercus suber) in my neighborhood. Its suberin-rich bark has immense economic use.

@Seema

Then there was the ubiquitous scrub oak. This variety, called chaparro in Spanish, gave the name “chaparral,” so characteristic of Southern California.

@Seema

But still, I wasn’t satisfied. Perhaps I was wishing to see a colossal Valley Oak (Quercus lobata). Then in a park I saw an oak with…