Acorns: The Gift of Life
Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn.” While that may be the case, I prefer to think of it this way: “The creation of a thousand lives is in one acorn.” Think of it, let it soak in for a minute. Something as small as one acorn has the potential to become so much.
Acorn on a white oak tree.
That one acorn, once intentionally planted by you or unintentionally planted by an over zealous squirrel or a forgetful Blue Jay will one day grow to be well over 50 feet tall. Some reach heights of 90 to 100 feet tall. This tree will then produce many other acorns throughout its life. These acorns could then become a vital food source for numerous wildlife species like birds, squirrels, bears, other mammals, and even insects like the Acorn Weevil. And it’s not just the acorns that are a valuable food source! Oak trees are estimated to support over 450 species of Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies). Lepidoptera caterpillars feed on the leaves of oak trees and other native trees. I love to watch my oak trees for signs of caterpillars. Here are some that I found recently:
The caterpillars then become food for many species of birds. As a matter of fact, many of our songbirds rely on caterpillars and the soft, squishy protein they provide to feed their young. I have read that chickadees need over 6,000 caterpillars to raise one brood. In his book, Bringing Nature Home: How Plants Sustain Wildlife in Our Gardens, Doug Tallamy says “Caterpillars transfer more energy from plants to other animals than any other type of creature.”
Prothonotary Warbler with a caterpillar.
But it is not just acorns and leaves that provide food. There are many insects that live in the bark which are also eaten by birds. I once watched a Black and White Warbler grab and eat spiders hiding in the bark. Brown Creepers and woodpeckers do the same thing.
Black and White Warbler with a little snack.
White Oak leaves with chew marks from caterpillars.
To quote Doug Tallamy one more time, “A plant that has fed nothing has not done its job.” Oaks are a very important keystone species because they support more life than any other tree. So if you can plant one tree, plant an oak.
One small acorn planted in the ground has the potential to grow up and make thousands of acorns in its lifetime. Those acorns will then feed many animals, providing them with food needed for life. The leaves of this oak will be eaten by caterpillars which will then be used by birds to feed their young, providing more life. Insects and other arthropods live and hide in the bark. They have the potential to be found and become food for birds too.
Oaks and fungi have a symbiotic relationship, or mutually beneficial relationship called mycorrhizae. In this relationship the oak tree provides a source of energy to the fungi in the form of carbohydrates and the fungi forms a sheath around the roots of the oak which then helps it to access more water and nutrients.
It is not just wildlife that benefits from oak trees. Oaks are also important resources to humans as well. Their deep roots help stop soil erosion. A mature oak tree can drop over 600,000 leaves each year. The leaves that fall to the ground eventually decompose and enrich the soil with organic material. The large canopy of oaks provide shade and help control the surrounding temperature. Oaks help improve air quality and are great at sequestering carbon; since they live for long periods of time, they can store more carbon than trees that live shorter lives.
