Do you ever tire of pulling the baby Oak trees that sprout up in your landscapes every season? They are, as I’m sure you know, courtesy of our forgetful squirrels that bury them to eat later, and then forget them. They are also nature’s way of reminding us that we live in what used to be all forest. Southwest New Hampshire in particular where Healthy Home Habitats (HHH) is located, is part of the Northeastern Highlands Ecoregion as defined by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
We, at HHH, are interested in spreading more of these fabulous native trees in more neighborhoods across America. But we’re willing to start here in Keene, NH for the moment. Why? Well beyond the most wonderful reason that Oak trees, in particular, are “…the most productive plant in this country. Over 900 species of Lepidoptera—and most of them are moths—use oaks and there’s no other genus that comes close to that.” as quoted by Douglas Tallamy, author of The Nature of Oaks.
Then there are the twenty-two other amazing, important and critical benefits that TreePeople.org have compiled:
- Trees Clean Air,
- Trees Provide Oxygen,
- Trees Cool the Streets and Cities,
- Trees Conserve Energy,
- Trees Save Water,
- Trees Help Prevent Water Pollution,
- Trees Help Prevent Soil Erosion,
- Trees Shield Children from Ultra-Violet Rays,
- Trees Provide Food,
- Trees Heal,
- Trees Reduce Violence,
- Trees Mark the Seasons,
- Trees Create Economic Opportunities,
- Trees are Teachers and Playmates,
- Trees Bring Diverse Groups of People Together.
So, we take baby Oak trees, mostly Red Oaks, from our demonstration gardens and offer them to our neighbors. Today we have our first family, the Prindles, who would like an Oak tree for their home. It is November, a time when plants are beginning to rest, a wonderful time to move plants carefully to new homes. We’ll look at the hows, wheres, and whats of siting and planting a new, baby, Red Oak tree at a home, in a neighborhood within walking distance of a small city’s downtown. Come join us!
We’ll make sure to water weekly until the ground freezes. This spring we’ll see how the tiny tree fared the winter. We’ll lift the tomato cage and watch as the tree grows over the coming years! Check out the video: https://youtu.be/xj0vHrQJotA