Celebrating Oak Trees

For a very long time, oaks have embodied strength and endurance in the northeastern deciduous forest. They were revered by members of the Cherokee Nation who called them “Standing People,” and today we echo this respectful tribute. Nothing beats the silhouette of a mature white oak tree (Quercus alba) with its massive trunk and spreading limbs filling up the sky across a far horizon.

It so happens Newtown is home to just such a tree, as shown in the accompanying photograph. Anyone walking the paved road below the Governor’s Horse Guard fields at Fairfield Hills is likely to have seen it growing on a grassy knoll.

That tree is probably older than the town’s original founding in 1705. The fact that it has escaped the fatal effects of disease, drought, windstorms, and lightning strikes is something of a miracle. Luckier still, it was not felled by a pioneer’s ax nor was it chopped down by a farmer to clear fields for growing corn or grazing cows.

Aside from beauty, any oak tree’s greatest attribute might be something we don’t easily see. This would be its critical role as a keystone species sustaining countless birds, mammals, and insects that depend upon it for food and shelter.

“Oaks have their own ecosystems within their canopies,” says Mark Kokinchak, teacher of insect identification and management at New York Botanical Garden.

Of the 435 oak species living today across five continents, 60 percent are native to North America. Of these, 90 species are found in New England. Beside white oaks, those common to Connecticut include red oaks, black oaks, pin oaks, bur oaks, scrub oaks, and chestnut oaks.

In autumn, oak trees produce acorns that are a critical food source for black bear, deer, turkey, raccoons, badgers, bobcats, squirrels, and mice. Occasionally, during what is known as a “mast year,” an oak will put out a bumper crop covering the ground so thickly that anyone walking by risks rolling an ankle. Perhaps this is an evolutionary adaptation, a way for oaks to ensure that after the foragers have eaten their fill, enough acorns remain to perpetuate the species.

Oaks play host to hundreds of invertebrate species and thereby to the birds that feed upon them.

In fact, according to Doug Tallamy in his book Nature’s Best Hope , oaks support 557 species of caterpillars, the most of any tree. Such a banquet of caterpillars is welcomed by chickadee parents who must collect up to 9,000 caterpillars to feed a nest full of hungry young (Tallamy).

A whopping 96 percent of all birds will eat insects during various stages of their lives. A barn swallow catches up to 850 flying insects per day to sustain its brood.

Wasps may deposit eggs under the oak’s bark or inside developing acorns to generate the production of oak galls. Those eggs grow into larvae which then become dinner for birds that crack open the galls.

While caterpillars voraciously chew through the oak’s leafy canopy, migrating warblers are gorging on the caterpillars. They, in their turn, may fall prey to hawks and owls. And so it goes, up and down the food chain.

Birds are sustained during winter by seeds they find both in the wild and in backyard feeders. But a diet of seeds alone will not suffice when spring comes. Now, the birds need extra energy to defend territories, attract mates, build nests, lay eggs, and feed their young. They must eat protein in the form of grubs, worms, moths, beetles, slugs, snails, ants, flies, and caterpillars, and they’ll search high and low to find it.

Geological evidence shows that oaks as a species first originated 60 million years ago ( Scientific American , August 2020). This might explain how so many intricate and co-dependent relationships could have formed between oak trees and animals that over thousands of years shared an evolutionary history.

Considering the importance of oaks to a functioning ecosystem, we should save as many individual trees as possible. But the challenges are many. An oak that stands in the way of highway construction, housing developments, or utility lines is going to be cut down. When this happens, we must mitigate the losses. Replacing by replanting oak trees in more favorable locations would be the best option.

If it takes up to 20 years for an oak to produce its first crop of acorns, the best time to plant one was 20 years ago. The next best time would be right now and National Arbor Day, which falls this year on Friday, April 28, provides the perfect opportunity.

This feature was provided by Protect Our Pollinators, a Newtown-based nonprofit group that seeks to increase awareness of threatened pollinator species, encourage planting of native plants, encourage the elimination of harmful pesticides and provide safer alternatives. POP also publishes a monthly column, “My Backyard Habitat,” in The Newtown Bee . For more information, visit propollinators.org.

(StatePoint) Attending a housewarming is a great way to celebrate a friend’s new home, but how do you find the perfect present to accompany the visit? These unique gift ideas are not only bound to make a statement, they’re incredibly useful to boot.

Fix-It Essentials: For practicality at its absolute best, pack up some must-haves for the house. Include a hammer, screwdrivers and some Original Duck Tape brand duct tape to help your friends get all those initial DIY projects handled –and cover bases for any future projects and everyday fixes that may pop up.

Plant Some Love: Flowers are always a great way to brighten a day, but why not offer something that can brighten a space for years to come and grow with the household? Bring over a gorgeous houseplant or orchid for a gift that lasts and makes your friends think of you every time they see it. Tie on a sweet note and a ribbon for a fun, personal touch.

Organization Must-Haves: Create a welcome home gift that will prove useful for years to come. Put together a basket that includes all those essentials we sometimes forget, like high-quality hangers, drawer organizers, rubber bands and paper clips for paperwork. Include additional essentials, such as Duck Max Strength Nano-Grab Gel Tape for securing miscellaneous items, photos and temporary seasonal décor, along with EasyLiner Brand Shelf Liner with Clorox for upgraded home organization.

Stock the Bar: Wine is fine, but why not equip your friends with what they need to entertain in the future? Bring over a favorite spirit, mixer and cocktail recipe book to keep the party going. Round out this gift with a cute set of rocks glasses or drink shaker.

Take a Photo: In the age of digital photography, you can help make memories more permanent. Bring your newly relocated friends a large empty photo album and toss in a few disposable cameras or instant film camera to start capturing the fun right away. Kick off the entries by including a cute photo of yourself!

Gift giving at a housewarming doesn’t have to be stressful. By getting creative with a variety of useful items, you can help make a house a home while making a lasting impression on those you love.

How To Be A Pet Parent On A Budget

(StatePoint) Whether you are a firsttime or veteran pet owner, being a pet parent can be expensive. From daily needs like food, treats and toys to medicines, the costs can add up.

To help stretch your budget, the experts at Dollar General are providing cost-friendly ways to provide for your pet:

Food to Fuel Your Furry Friend: Fueling your pet with nutritious food doesn’t have to break your budget. By stocking up on options available exclusively at select retailers, you can feed your furry family member affordably. For example, Nature’s Menu is available only at Dollar General and offers dog and cat food free from artificial colors, flavors or preservatives.

Their dry pet food products also include pre and probiotics to support healthy digestion, along with added vitamins, minerals and other trace nutrients and a money-back satisfaction guarantee.

Hygiene How-To: Having a pup or feline companion comes with responsibility, especially when it pertains to their cleanliness and well-being. To maintain a groomed pet, create a care tote that includes such hygiene essentials as a brush or flea comb, shampoo, nail clippers and puppy pads, which can be used as clean-up tool for both dogs and cats.

Also consider using a dual-action topical treatment to help prevent fleas and ticks. Be sure to see a trusted veterinarian for annual checkups and other needs.

Paw-some Accessories: All those accessories that enhance your pet’s days and nights don’t have to be costly. Consider new water and food bowls, a collar and a bed for a good night’s rest after playful days.

Next, make playtime a bit more fun with a few new toys from Dollar General’s private brand, Forever Pals, which include a variety toy pack for dogs and a feather wand for cats. With these accessories, your pet will be wagging their tail or purring with excitement all day long!

By shopping wisely for all your pet’s needs, you can provide them with quality products while stretching your budget in the process.