A magical old tree (Oak)

Member Name: mumsymary

Product:	Oak
Date:	24/04/05 (2555 review reads)
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Advantages: great tree

Disadvantages: none

Oak before ash we are in for a splash,

Well as yet I have not seen either in leaf the buds are ready to burst but I have not seen either tree in leaf yet.

Oak trees are one of Britains great old trees. The village green where I lived as a child has several really old ones and has a few new saplings too. I have great memories of the old oak from my childhood. I could climb among its lower branches.
I often went there when needing to think and be alone. . I made a den under the oak it was my place to be.

There are about 400species of oak/Quercus over the whole world. A including our native pedunculate oak and sessile oak, a red leaved oak and a cork oak the cork oak tree is an evergreen. An oak tree can live in excess of 700 years. They can grow up to 45 metres high have a circumference of 400cm The sessile oak growing a bit taller and spreading wider than the penduncular oak

The Irish name for oak is duir, which is often translated as door, a doorway to our inner beings and spirituality. Yes I can see that since I spent my childhood as a tree spirit. I drew peace and tranquillity from my space under and on the oak tree.
Also we think the name Druid came from the oak tree, as the druids believed the oak contained the power of their god Esus
King Arthurs round table at Camelot was said to be made of oak. Merlin wand was said to be oak .oak wands are good for discovering ones inner power.

Apparently oak ointment and footbaths help heal feet perhaps should try that for my poor old feet.

Oak is referred to as a strong tree having qualities of strength and endurance. The oak wood is often used in old doors.

Oak is used traditionally for making casks for beer and other alcohol.
My friend has also made oak leaf wine, a light delicious wine.
Oak trees have very deep roots I have seen ones which have been blown over or pulled up the craters the roots leave in the ground are massive.

Oak is a fine strong wood some floors are a seasoned oak and furniture is made of it .Oak is a hard wood not a soft wood like pine. Oak furniture is much more long lasting and more expensive. It is a slower growing tree.

Animals will eat acorns the squirrel hides them away for the winter my bunny did eat some but too many gave him a runny tum.
Oak trees are good for wildlife providing a good habitat for birds (redstarts and pied flycatchers love the sessile oak tree) and insects (284 insect species have been recorded on oak trees) as well as the squirrel. The Birds will nest in them. Tiny mites make oak apples the larvae living in the oak apple and boring a hole out when it is fully mature.

From a little acorn giant oaks grow, yes they do. It is quite easy to germinate acorns I have germinated many in my lifetime mostly by accident. It does not take long for a tiny tree to grow but a big tree takes years we plant oaks for pour children, not us.

An oak in your garden? Well it is going to be a large tree; some species are smaller and more suitable. If you have the room though it is a magnificent tree. They look grand along a hedgerow Oak trees like a damp moist soil prefer clay The soil in the village where I grew up was clay so I guess that’s why the oak tree was so good there. I now live in a chalk area not so many oaks here. . If you are growing one they need watering in the summer for the first 5 years till they are established

You can buy oak trees on line at
http://www.tree-shop.co.uk/products_detail.asp?pro ductheadingID=1013, for under 2 pounds each + delivery charges the oaks are v small 60-90 cm

At http://www.internova.co.uk/nativetreeshop/catalogu e/product.asp? 4 oak trees can be obtained for £10


If you have no room in garden why not try growing a bonsai oak tree? Thanks for reading about oak trees they really are the most majestic of trees and one of the best trees for wildlife.

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