Be Full of Life

There are approximately 500 species of oaks.  Canadian species grow locally in Ontario and eastward. Garry oak is found only in BC and bur oak excels even in the cold winters in Edmonton’s prairie climate.  

Oak trees grow best in humus-rich, well-drained soils. Most oak trees prefer full sun once they are established.  Young seedlings may need to be watered once a week but more mature oak trees can tolerate drought, clayey soils and other less than ideal conditions. A healthy, mature oak under natural conditions does not require any supplemental feeding.  Leaf litter and other organic debris on the soil supply nutrients the oak tree needs as they decompose.

Oak wood with a density of 0.75 grams per cubic centimetre is considered the most durable wood used for making high-quality Oak furniture and doors.  Oak wood is hard and is resistant to fungi. Canadian oak which is red oak and the white oak have an attractive grain making it very useful as a decorative interior product often used on ceilings. 

Oak trees grow 12 - 15 feet every 10-12 years.  They can reach up to 80 feet or more. Oak trees are a great tree to grow in your backyard because of their sturdiness and stability.  It is fairly easy to grow an oak tree from an acorn. Oak trees provide a lot of shade and in the fall the leaves turn to a brown to rich red colour.  

The bark on oak trees has deep fissures and ridges, giving it a scaly appearance.  The colour of oak bark ranges from whitish-grey to dark, almost black.  Oak leaves are longer than they are wide.  The leaves have five or six deep, rounded lobes and short stalks.  

White Oak acorns are a food source for many mammals and larger birds.  On average a 100-year-old oak tree will produce 2,200 acorns per year.  Squirrels and birds will bury acorns for future consumption.  Some that are not claimed grow into oak trees. Hunters use acorns as deer bait.  They will often buy them and spread them during the hunting season.  Acorns are used in crafts such as wreaths, picture frames, candles, jewellery, animal shapes, and Christmas ornaments.  

Raw acorns contain tannins which can be toxic to humans.  They taste bitter and are also poisonous to horses, cattle and dogs.  By leaching them in boiling water, acorns can be made safe for human comsumption.

These are the sayings on the bookmark called Advice from an Oak Tree.

• Stand in Your Strength

• Be Full of Life

• Live with the Seasons

• Be Magnificent

• Squirrel Away a Snack

• Soak Up the Sun

• Think Big!

Here are my comments about each of these sayings. 

• Stand in Your Strength - We all have strengths and weaknesses.  Use your strengths and share your talents with others.

• Be Full of Life - Live life to the fullest. Be energetic and vibrant. 

• Live with the Seasons - Winter, Spring, Su mmer, Fall

• Be Magnificent - Exceptional, Impressive, Awesome.

• Squirrel Away a Snack - This reminds me of my grandmother.  Nannie had a box beside her bed that she used to hold cookies and other snacks.  We called it her squirrel box.

• Soak Up the Sun - Oak trees like to be in the sun.  Get outside and enjoy a sunny day.

• Think Big! - Dream big.  

Have a great day everyone.  Be full of life and think big.

# living life abundantly   # published author   # travelling tuesdays