One of the most majestic sights in our local landscape is that of the mighty Oak Tree. It provides us with a picturesque panorama across the Central Valley and up into the foothills. Many of us, over a certain age, remember with fondness the magnificent Hooker Oak Tree, which was a main attraction at Bidwell Park in Chico.
Many of us who live in this area have glorious, cherished old oaks on our property. This article will focus on some of the beautiful and abundant species of oaks native to the Sacramento Valley. There are over 500 species of Oak trees in the Northern Hemisphere.
They can be either evergreen or deciduous. In the spring, all oaks produce male catkins, which cause allergic reactions in many of us. These catkins hang down about six inches and pollinate the tiny female flowers, which in turn produce acorns.
The acorn, which is the seed of the oak tree, wears a cap and measures at least an inch in length. Acorns are very easy to find and identify. New Oak Trees are the product of the acorn.
One year, my primary class at Vina Elementary School gathered and sorted acorns for propagation. These acorns were used to reforest an area near the Sacramento River. Acorns also provide food for many birds, insects, and mammals, including humans.
Acorn mush is surprisingly good, but it is a lot of work to make—from grinding the acorns to leaching the tannic acid to cooking the mush—but I digress. Over the next three articles, I will write about the California White Oak (V.