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In reply to the discussion: What is your favorite tree? It can be in your yard or not. I love the Japanese Fire Trees. I have in my yard, though [View all]RockRaven
(16,183 posts)230. California black oak -- Quercus kelloggii
So many to choose from, of course. Tomorrow my answer might be different.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quercus_kelloggii
An excerpt from the "Ecology" section:
The California black oak is a critical species for wildlife. Oaks (Quercus spp.) may be the single most important genus used by wildlife for food and cover in California forests and rangelands,[7] and California black oak occupies more total area in California than any other hardwood species. Livestock also make heavy use of this species for food and cover.
Older trees affected by heart rot have cavities which provide den or nest sites[2] for owls, various woodpeckers, tree squirrels, and American black bears. Trees provide valuable shade for livestock and wildlife during the hot summer. California black oak forest types are heavily used for spring, summer, and fall cover by black bears.
It is browsed by deer and livestock.[8] Acorns are heavily used by livestock, mule deer, feral pigs, rodents, mountain quail, Steller's jays, and woodpeckers. Acorns constitute an average of 50% of the fall and winter diets of western gray squirrels and black-tailed deer during good mast years. Fawn survival rates increase or decrease with the size of the acorn crop.
It is a preferred foraging substrate for many birds. All of 68 bird species observed in oak woodlands of the Tehachapi Mountains of California used California black oak for part of their foraging activities. Acorn woodpecker, Bullock's oriole, and Nashville warbler show strong preferences for California black oak. The parasitic plant Pacific mistletoe (Phoradendron villosum), which commonly grows on this oak, produces berries that attract birds, as well.[3]
Older trees affected by heart rot have cavities which provide den or nest sites[2] for owls, various woodpeckers, tree squirrels, and American black bears. Trees provide valuable shade for livestock and wildlife during the hot summer. California black oak forest types are heavily used for spring, summer, and fall cover by black bears.
It is browsed by deer and livestock.[8] Acorns are heavily used by livestock, mule deer, feral pigs, rodents, mountain quail, Steller's jays, and woodpeckers. Acorns constitute an average of 50% of the fall and winter diets of western gray squirrels and black-tailed deer during good mast years. Fawn survival rates increase or decrease with the size of the acorn crop.
It is a preferred foraging substrate for many birds. All of 68 bird species observed in oak woodlands of the Tehachapi Mountains of California used California black oak for part of their foraging activities. Acorn woodpecker, Bullock's oriole, and Nashville warbler show strong preferences for California black oak. The parasitic plant Pacific mistletoe (Phoradendron villosum), which commonly grows on this oak, produces berries that attract birds, as well.[3]
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What is your favorite tree? It can be in your yard or not. I love the Japanese Fire Trees. I have in my yard, though [View all]
debm55
Sep 7
OP
Thank you FarPoint I haven't seen any willow trees around here. but other places I have been, I admired their beauty. I
debm55
Sep 7
#5
We don't have any any ponds around here. just the rivers. Bummer. I think they are beautiful.
debm55
Sep 8
#82
I agree with the native trees. My Japanese Fire trees look like crap starting in the fall. They are beautiful in the
debm55
Sep 7
#13
At one time we had peach and pear trees . I was told by my neighbor that to give fruit you had to have 2 of each. Yard
debm55
Sep 7
#15
Lindens---very popular in Colorado and when they bloom, oh, the fragrance is heavenly...
hlthe2b
Sep 7
#10
I never knew a variety of honey was produced from them, but searching I see it available. I'll have to try...
hlthe2b
Sep 8
#101
Thank you Hithe2b they sound wounderful, I like trees with a scent. We used to have a lilac tree loved it.
debm55
Sep 8
#88
Thank you arkielib. I am so glad your sister survived.You have to careful of pines also as their roots do not grow deep
debm55
Sep 8
#91
Thank you Jrose I love the colors of the maple trees. They are beautiful. It's getting close to them changing.
debm55
Sep 8
#92
Technically it may not be a "tree" but it is my favorite as well. The other morning when I was walking I
in2herbs
Sep 8
#147
Thank you HeartsCanHope. While walking Dolly , We both have been hit on the head by them
debm55
Sep 8
#97
Thank you Niagara. I love the Magnoia trees and their smell. I don't think I have seen a Knock Out Rose Tree around here
debm55
Sep 8
#98
Love these trees. Had a bunch of them in my small ranch, and had to run off people from stealing the walnuts!
SWBTATTReg
Sep 7
#45
Thank you surrealAmerican. I was trying to figure out the names of the trees. We use to call them "monkey balls" when I
debm55
Sep 8
#99
We always knew when folks had been hulling black walnuts from the stain on their forearms
yellowdogintexas
Sep 8
#123
My neighbors across the street. bought the next lot. And had about ten of them. They were beautiful. When they died and
debm55
Sep 8
#100
These are nice too! Used to have before they all died out, the birds would flock all over them, eat them before I
SWBTATTReg
Sep 7
#46
I love Japanese Cherry Trees when they first bloom in the spring Thank you, Polly Hennessey.
debm55
Sep 8
#118
I live in San Antonio. We're always in a drought, but I know they grow on land in parts of the south.
LeftInTX
Sep 10
#217
Thank you Sanity Claws We love driving up the mountains here in PA and looking at the trees. It's almost time.
debm55
Sep 8
#125
You can love all trees but have a special tree that is a sight to behold for various reasons.
debm55
Sep 8
#127
Reread my post at #127, I wasn;t defensive, Just said that you can love all trees but have a special type that you are
debm55
Sep 24
#240
I really don't think God fills insulted by me liking a specific tree, animal, body of water. landforms. humans, birds,
debm55
Sep 24
#243
I don't think I heard of them. We had Monkey Ball Trees in PA. Thank you . I will look it up
debm55
Sep 8
#132
Thank you WestMichRad. Wonderful tree. When I was a teen we lived in White Oak PA named after the trees there.
debm55
Sep 8
#145
Thank you waterwatcher123. That is interesting about the Yellow birch. I love the smell of spearment.
debm55
Sep 8
#161
Yellow birch are native to the zone where we live (transition from hardwood to boreal forest).
waterwatcher123
Sep 8
#187
It was a very nice thread and chance for everyone to express a bit of appreciation for nature's splendor and diversity.
waterwatcher123
Sep 9
#214
I remember working with a plant ecologist who said some of our yellow birch trees were hundreds of years old.
waterwatcher123
Sep 9
#213
I did too.. made jelly from the crabapples... Also nursed quite a few bee stings, as a result...
hlthe2b
Sep 24
#241
Oh, man - all at once! And just brown. Well, the flowers make up for it. 👍
electric_blue68
Sep 7
#75
Oh, how well (unfortunately!) I know! In my second childhood neighborhood, our park...
electric_blue68
Sep 7
#73
Thank you Marigold. I remember a neighbor had a Gingko Tree in their yard. Very unique leaf shape.
debm55
Sep 8
#170
Thank you madamesilverspurs. That sounds so romantic with the leaves and their fall colors.
debm55
Sep 8
#179
Crab apple, or flowering cherry trees bc of the beautiful flowers each Spring. Otherwise, I guess...
electric_blue68
Sep 7
#66
Traveling itself is not really a problem. I don't have extra much money at all...
electric_blue68
Sep 12
#221
I understand financial difficulties. This year has been financially difficult for me...
Niagara
Sep 13
#231
One of the few national parks I haven't been to that I always wished I had. Thank you Stargleamer.
debm55
Sep 8
#134
thank you CrispyQ. I took my class to the Conservatory in Pittsburgh. They had a Japanesse Section with all these
debm55
Sep 8
#133
Oh, the Elms. In NYC we lost a lot of Elms to this disease in the 60's...
electric_blue68
Sep 9
#198
Thank you very much markofochartaigh. Your post touched my heart. The trees and the events tied to them forever in your
debm55
Sep 8
#191
Thank you Nixie. Mine will turn a burgundy in the fall and then the leaves will drop.There are many varieties of the
debm55
Sep 8
#192
i am patial to hemlocks, but i guess yellow birch. they look like bronze at the family cottage. horse chestnut. except
pansypoo53219
Sep 8
#194
Thank you very much, electric_blue68 . You have some very interesting stories. I always though th Magnolia was a warm
debm55
Sep 9
#200
There are magnolias at the white house. They're supposedly hardy to -10 degrees. (But probably more like -5)
LeftInTX
Sep 10
#215
Thank you very much Easterncedar. Your post is very interesting. We have elms around here in SW PA. Majestic trees.
debm55
Sep 9
#205