Letters from Katherine: A different view

After I posted the autumn orchard by Babs Young, I got this letter from Katherine:

Here’s a different view of (maybe) the same trees. It is interesting how they still have their leaves while all the other trees, with the exception of oak trees, have lost theirs. What’s with the oak trees anyway? It takes a hurricane to get those leaves to fall off. Maybe for squirrel protection? Or maybe for acorn production or….? Inquiring minds wanna know.

I did some research.  Dennis Weibel, an outdoors writer for the Dunn County News in Menomonie, Wisconsin, wrote about the phenomenon in Some questions best left unanswered – Northern pin oaks hold on to their leaves.  After consulting my favorite guide, Stan Tekiela, I’m inclined to think that our oaks are mainly white oaks, but they behave pretty much the same way.  Why?  Well, Weibel cites horticulturist Herb Orange, who said, “It’s not any advantage to the plant right now and it’s not a great disadvantage. It just is. Sometimes things don’t become apparent until thousands of years later, or it may be coincidence. Things don’t always have to have a reason.” I find that oddly reassuring.

Definitely related posts: Transition time: Don’t tell the cherry trees fall is over