Oak News & Notes

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Oak News & Notes The Newsletter of the International Oak Society, Volume 17, No. 2, 2013

Original artwork by Keiko Tokunaga of Quercus aliena Blume. Why I Draw Oaks

have been drawing Fagaceae species for twenty years of drawing simple images featuring what I was asked to I and in 2004 I published Pictorial Encyclopedia of Oaks show. I like animals, birds, and insects, but they are hard in Japan. You may ask why I draw Fagaceae exclusively, to catch. There are beautiful flowers like roses, orchids but I have no specific reason for this. I just happened to and cherry blossoms, but they are already very popular start drawing them and continued the work because it was subjects for drawings. So I decided to pick some trees, a pleasure to do so. because I like big trees.

I used to draw illustrations for children’s books, but I Though I like trees, I have not studied botany. Therefore, I wanted to draw real things as precisely as possible instead decided to pick some trees which could be found easily. Oak News & Notes They would be those found in parks majority of people in feudal times, community dynamics and the life or in the natural forest. when only upper class people could cycles of fungi, insects, birds, and eat rice. So acorns helped save many mammals. people then and were a part of the culture of the time. However, as the The host for this collaborative pro- first phonic character don means in- ject is another IOS member, Dr. An- ferior or second grade, don-guri toine Kremer. Antoine is Senior Sci- means not tasty as guri, which means entist in the department of Ecology chestnut. It is true, but I think it is an and Functional Genomics at INRA, unfair name considering their contri- the French National Institute for Ag- bution in the past. ricultural Research EVOLTREE (www.evoltree.eu) is a consortium of 23 research groups in 13 European countries that investigates “the evolution of trees as drivers of terrestrial biodiversity.” Andrew’s home insti- tution, The Morton Arboretum, is a leader in the global arboretum com-

Quercus serrata Murray. Seedlings of Quercus myrsinifolia Blume. I learned a lot while drawing, then I Fagaceae drop fruit which can be wanted to know more and it kept me good marks to locate the tree. So I drawing. Since publishing my book I chose them. Japanese children like travel internationally with my retired acorns. They go to the park every husband to find noteworthy acorns, autumn to pick acorns and colored like the largest or the smallest. It is leaves, and make toys or handcrafts really fun, but what is more im- in kindergarten or elementary school. portant is that I have been able to There are many kinds of acorns, meet many friendly people around round, big or small, but we the world through my drawing activity. Dr. Andrew Hipp from The Morton Arbo- retum. (Photo: The Morton Arboretum) Keiko Tokunaga munity through ArbNet (www.arbnet.org) and through its Center for Tree Science, which hous- IOS Member Receives es a focused research program in the biology of trees and wooded ecosys- Prestigious Fulbright tems (www.mortonarb.org/research).

Scholarship Along with the Morton, EVOLTREE Quercus myrsinifolia. is a natural partner in this project and r. Andrew Hipp of The Morton forms an exciting group for future call all of them donguri in Japan. D Arboretum has received a Ful- collaborations. Andrew and Antoine Even adult people call them donguri, bright Scholarship to continue his will be utilizing cutting-edge DNA not knowing the exact species name, work in oak phylogenetics. Andrew’s sequencing and genome mapping and sometimes they tell me they do research program investigates the methods to investigate how oak ge- not know that oaks flower. biodiversity of oaks which dominate nomes have responded to past cli- many forested ecosystems in North mate changes. Forests of the Tem- Japanese people ate acorns until a America, Europe, and Asia. With perate Zone worldwide face immi- hundred years ago. Acorns are not over 400 species in a wide range of nent and potentially rapid transitions tasty, but they were one of the avail- habitats, oaks play a critical role in in species composition and ecologi- able foods along with millet for the global carbon sequestration and cal dynamics as a consequence of

Oak News & Notes climate change, and studies such as your head” and added, perhaps apoc- this are essential to understanding ryphally, that many years ago Prin- how temperate forests will respond cess Elizabeth (now Queen Elizabeth to climate change. II), traveling through the city in an open carriage with her sister Princess Margaret, became an acorn victim and thus an honored member of this select band. (And one can always blame one’s after-lunch headache on an acorn…)

The above is all the more unexpected in that not only are there no oaks na- Dr. Antoine Kremer. (Photo: courtesy tive to sub-Saharan Africa, but in- INRA) deed there are very few trees at all in the flora of the fire-dominated Fyn- This project will bring together a bos Biome in which much of the unique data set that Andrew, An- Winelands region lies. It was a prac- toine, and collaborators from the tical consideration that brought about U.S. and Mexico have generated on the first oak plantations on the Cape the evolution of oak biodiversity in the seventeenth century. Wear and 300-year-old Quercus robur L. at Vergele- gen. (Photo: Shaun Haddock) with sophisticated genetic resources tear often necessitated repairs on the developed by Dr. Kremer and col- sailing ships making the long and Q. palustris Münchh.; more occa- leagues. They will be exchanging hazardous return journey round the sionally Q. ilex L., and Q. coccinea expertise and knowledge in bioin- Cape of Good Hope from Europe to Münchh. The European white oaks formatics, phylogenetics, and biodi- the East Indies, and it was hoped that are used less now in street plantings versity to address questions that are locally grown oaks could provide the due to their susceptibility to mildew, key to understanding how oaks will strong timbers required. However, and Q. nigra is apparently the current evolve in response to climate change these hopes were soon dashed when landscapers’ favorite. Although total- and that can only be answered in col- it was found that Quercus robur L. ly unsuited to this dry Mediterrane- laboration. and Q. petraea (Matt.) Liebl. grew an climate, Q. palustris copes sur- too fast in the local climate, and pro- prisingly well, but it is clear that Ryan Russell duced weak timber overly prone to there are many species, as yet not rot. Thus perhaps it was a mixture of introduced, which should thrive European nostalgia, the need for much better in the conditions. shade, and even the provision of por- cine pannage that ensured that oaks Two estates in the ‘Greater Stellen- Stellenbosch continued to be planted through the bosch’ area are at present trying to City of Oaks succeeding centuries. extend the range of their oak plant- So essential are in- he Cape Winelands region to the troduced oaks to the T northeast of Cape Town, South aspect of the city of Africa, is to me synonymous with Stellenbosch, the leisurely alfresco lunches (bien arro- ‘center’ of the Wine- sés, as the French would say, with lands, that it is one of the splendid wines of the ar- known in the Dutch- ea). During one such lunch, on the derived Afrikaans final day of my most recent visit in language as ‘Eike- March, every gust of wind brought a stad,’ the City of renewed explosion of acorns bounc- Oaks. These planta- ing from the overhead sunshade tions are limited to (acorns in March? – don’t forget the only a few species – Quercus leucotrichophora A. Camus. (Photo: Shaun Haddock) ‘reversed’ seasons of the Southern in addition to Q. ro- Hemisphere). Our local companion bur and Q. petraea, one finds Q. cer- ing: Vergelegen, owned by the min- quoted, “You’re not a true Stellen- ris L., Q.suber L., Q. nigra L., and ing conglomerate Anglo American; boscher unless an acorn has fallen on and the privately-owned estate of 3 Oak News & Notes Rustenberg. Both estates are open, at proud of this natural inheritance, a venue, an organizer or organizers and least in part, to the public. In addi- strong, even fanatical, native-plants- people to participate! The Tour tion, a ‘quercetum’ under the auspi- only movement has arisen, and in Committee is always looking for ces of the municipality has been un- Cape Town many introduced trees volunteer organizers, so please feel der discussion, but remains uncon- have already been cut down, much to free to send in any ideas or requests firmed; there is also a possibility that the chagrin of the general public who you may have regarding venues or a similar project may be created at enjoyed their shade. However, the preferred times of the year for partic- another large estate. Hurdles still to plantings of oaks within what is a ipation, and please do your best to be overcome include restrictions on World Heritage area in the Wine- attend functions once arranged. I can the import of seed and plant material lands has been, I hope successfully, guarantee you will enjoy them! All into the Republic. defended as being part of the ‘Cul- communications can be sent to: tural Heritage’ of the region (as op- [email protected]. Non- In addition to several oaks planted by posed to the ‘Natural Heritage’ of members are welcome at Oak Open visiting royalty, Vergelegen claims Fynbos). From our perspective, it is Days as well, so bring your friends to have the oldest surviving oak in to be wished that this defense along. Southern Africa (a venerable Q. ro- The Oak Open Day at the Sir Harold bur, now hollow and thus un- Hillier Gardens on July 29th was a dateable but allegedly 300 years of great success (see “A Sunny Day in age), and has recently opened a new the UK,” p. 11). Information about oak arboretum. Together with Anke future OOD tours can be found be- Mattern, I was kindly invited to plant low and on the IOS website. an oak at the official opening in No- vember 2012 (with a gold-painted Oak Open Day, Pavia shovel!); the IOS subsequently gained some publicity in the local Nurseries, Belgium press (albeit slightly misquoted), see Sunday, September 22, 2013 link: Dirk Benoit, owner of Pavia Nurse- www.wine.co.za/news/News.aspx?N ries and retired IOS Board member, EWSID=21866. extends a kind invitation to an Oak Open Day at the Nurseries on 22nd Should you visit the estate, a must- September, starting at 10:00 a.m. The see is a row of elephantine camphor day will include a tour as well as a trees (Cinnamomum camphora [L.] J. workshop on clonal oak propagation Presl) near the manor house; it is also by grafting. To register contact possible to picnic within a ‘forest’ of Shaun Haddock at: almost equally large trees of the [email protected]. same species (a snake once joined us An unusual adornment for a Stellenbosch for coffee…). oak: Monstera deliciosa Liebm. (Photo: Oak Open Days, Aiken Oak Shaun Haddock) Rustenberg has some large speci- and Horticultural Tour remains adequate; and indeed I am mens of the less-seen species, but a Aiken, SC, USA sure that those ‘true Stellenboschers’ large Q. coccinea, ostensibly ideal would commence an ‘Acorn War’ November 1-3, 2013 for the region, seemed to be suffering rather than let their oaks be cut Bob McCartney of Woodlanders Inc. in waterlogged ground after a partic- down! invites IOS members and non- ularly wet winter and spring in 2012 members alike to tour a comprehen- (which might equally explain why Q. sive oak collection in Aiken’s city- palustris often does so well). How- Shaun Haddock wide arboretum. Bob’s thirty plus ever, the beautiful gardens alone are years of hard work and donations to worth a visit, and the owners and the city make Aiken a rare gem head gardener are enthusiastic about among US cities. oak planting. The flora of the Cape is Oak Open Days To register, contact Emily Harm at so varied that it has been designated the City of Aiken at: as (very much) the smallest of only for 2013 [email protected]. six Floral Kingdoms in the world (by contrast, the whole of the non- am probably stating the blindingly Shaun Haddock tropical Northern Hemisphere lies I obvious, but a successful Oak within one Floral Kingdom). Justly Open Day requires three things: a

Oak News & Notes had a silk balloon shipped out from where they landed and true to her The Anchorena France, together with a pilot. As hy- word his mother purchased it for him Alcornoque drogen and helium were not readily – all 11,000 ha (27,000 ac) of it. available in Buenos Aires in those His wings now clipped, Aarón fo- n Parque Anchorena, the country days, the balloon was filled with the coal gas used for street lighting. The cused on beautifying his estate, hir- I residence of the President of Uru- ing German landscape architect guay, a gigantic cork oak (Quercus French pilot explained that this gas would not provide the required lift Hermann Böttrich to lay out the park suber L.) holds sway over the wide and importing exotic species to plant lawn in front of the Tudor style and refused to take part in the flight. Aarón was not interested in the laws in it. Anchorena also introduced wild house. In Spanish, the common name boar from Europe and axis deer from for Q. suber is alcornoque, which of physics. He asked for a volunteer from the crowd present to take the India to serve as cannon fodder for derives from Arabic (al is the defi- his hunting parties. The boar ran wild nite article in that language) and in French expert’s place and join him in the flight. A hand shot up: it be- and are not exactly farmers’ favor- turn from the Latin quernus (oaken). ites, but the deer thrived in the park The Anchorena Alcornoque has longed to the Director of Public Street Lighting of the city of Buenos and are its picturesque denizens to- caught the attention of oak enthusi- day. During masting season they asts in the past: it is shown in the Aires, Jorge Newbery; perhaps he felt responsible for the situation as gather under the large cork oak and Guide illustré de Chênes, the quer- the other oaks in Parque Anchorena. cophiles’ vade mecum, and has been his firm was supplying the coal gas written about in an Interna- It is assumed that these tional Dendrology Society first plantings, which began Yearbook. Here’s an up- in 1908, included a cork date on its current status oak seedling that would and some background on over the following century how it came to stand where grow into the colossus that it does. It all started with a dominates the wide ex- pioneering balloon flight. panse of lawn in Parque Anchorena, originally Aarón de Anchorena was Aarón’s golf course. When born in 1877 into one of IOS members Peter La- the wealthiest families in harrague and Duncan Argentina. Following an Cameron came across it education in Europe, his unexpectedly in January youth was spent in pursuit 2003 (see “Member Spot- of adventure – particularly light,” p. 7), Peter estimat- in the fields of hunting, car ed its dimensions as fol- racing and ballooning. By The Anchorena Alcornoque, Quercus suber L. (Photo: Roderick Cameron) lows: height 23 m (75 ft), the time he was thirty, his girth 5.2 m (17 ft) and concerned mother insisted that would hoist the craft aloft. crown spread 30 m (98 ft). These that he should settle down, quite lit- figures bear comparison with Old erally in fact: she would buy him an They set off, rising steadily to a World champions such the Portu- estancia (large farm) as an advance height of 3,000 m (9,800 ft) as the guese giant ‘Sobreiro de Pai Anes’ on his inheritance if he kept both feet southwesterly breeze carried them (height 18 m [59 ft], girth 7.3 m [24 on the ground and gave up his new towards the coast of Uruguay. How- ft]), and the ‘Alcornoque de la Corte passion for balloon flying. Aarón ever, the French expert’s reservations del Romero’ in Spain (height 17 m agreed on the condition that he about the lack of required lift were [55 ft], girth: 7.5 m [24 ft]). should be allowed one last flight and not unfounded: while the coast was be able to choose the land in question still far off, the balloon began to lose In July 2013 I obtained permission to from the air. The flight he proposed altitude. The adventurers started measure the Anchorena Alcornoque was an intrepid first crossing of the throwing off ballast and eventually and noted the following dimensions: River Plate. Flying across a river had to release the basket in which girth 5.6 m (18 ft), height 23.2 m (76 sounds insignificant, but bear in they stood and hang on for dear life ft), crown spread 37 m (121 ft). Even mind this is the world’s widest river to the balloon’s harness, and that is allowing for margin of error in the and that opposite Buenos Aires, his how they splashed into the shallow 2003 and 2013 measurements, it ap- chosen departure point, it is 50 km waters of the Uruguayan beach. pears that the oak is still growing (30 mi) across. For this purpose he Aarón liked the look of the land steadily and is well on its way to

Oak News & Notes compete with and perhaps overtake ous, relatively small, shiny to dull its European brethren. The size of the Durand’s Oak of the adaxial and pubescent abaxial sur- crown spread is particularly notewor- Alabama and faced leaves that are 7.5 cm (3 in) thy. A study of notable trees in An- long, and roughly 2.5 cm (1 in) wide dalucía, Spain, Arboles y Arboledas Mississippi Blackland (shade leaves can be double this Singulares de Andalucía, lists many size). Leaf shape can vary considera- outstanding cork oaks and their di- Prairie bly from leaf to leaf and tree to tree mensions: the largest crown spread due to factors such as age, sunlight recorded is 35 m (114 ft), and the y first encounter with Durand availability, and individual variation. average is 22 m (72 ft). I have yet to M oak (Quercus sinuata Walter I’ve seen shapes from elliptical to find evidence of a cork oak with a var. sinuata) came during an im- spatulate and everything in between. larger crown spread than this Uru- promptu dendrology pop quiz while Leaf margins can vary even more, guayan specimen. Should any reader helping my dendrology professor, from completely entire to those with know of one, please let us know! Dr. David Evans, collect herbarium multiple, short lobes that can be specimens along a rural road that cut rounded or pointed. The leaf base is Aarón died in 1965 and he willed his through a Demopolis chalk bluff in usually acute. Twigs are slender, estancia to the Uruguayan state, spe- the Blackland Prairie ecoregion of glabrous, and new vigorous growth cifically for the purpose of serving as Oktibbeha County, Mississippi. matures to a light brown. The buds a residence for the head of state. (In- (small for an oak) harden to a chest- cidentally, Aarón’s volunteer com- nut brown and have ciliated margins. panion on the fateful balloon flight, Jorge Newbery, who had never flown A member of section Quercus (the before, went on to become the white oaks), Durand oak acorns are founder of Argentine aviation – the borne and mature in the first year. domestic airport in Buenos Aires is Durand acorns favor the more famil- named after him.) While we do not iar post oak (Q. stellata Wangenh.) know the exact year the cork oak was in size (1.25-1.9 cm [0.50-0.75 in]) planted, it is safe to say it is a century and color (light to dark brown), but old, still in its salad days compared the pericarp of a mature nut is out- to the European champions that have Quercus sinuata Walter var. sinuata foliage standing and resembles the polished been growing for three or four hun- and fruit. (Photo: Dudley Phelps) gemstone tiger’s-eye and its chatoy- dred years. It may well be the case Luckily, I had heard and read about ancy. Acorn shape varies from al- that its speedy growth will lead to an Durand oak and upon noticing the most perfectly round to slightly early demise, but till then it will con- exposed chalk layer and prevalent elongated and has a very shallow tinue to be a joy to behold and an Eastern Red-cedar (Juniperus virgin- cupule that more or less appears to interesting case study of the behavior iana L.) I hopingly asked Dr. Evans, hover above the rest of the acorn of this species outside its native “Is that a Durand oak?” and awaited when it’s fully mature, allowing you habitat. his answer, which was: “That’s cor- to see where it is attached. The acorns mature and drop very late for Roderick Cameron rect.” This was followed by a drawn out explanation, in mostly at the time a white oak (mid-November in Northern Mississippi) revealing a With thanks to Michel Timacheff, over-my-head scientific lingo, con- cerning the key distinguishing char- strikingly fluorescent orange cup Francisco Vázquez and Shaun Had- scar. The freshly harvested acorns of dock for information on noteworthy acteristics I still struggle with today. What I did recognize were the lay- several trees I collect from are so low cork oaks in Europe, and to Mario in tannins I’ve witnessed dogs eating Vega and María José Colo for per- man’s identifying features that still work so well for me such as, “water them! mission to measure the cork oak in Parque Anchorena. For a full ac- oak leaves, white oak bark,” and his description of the site and surround- From what I have read and personal- count of Aarón de Anchorena’s life ly experienced with Durand oak, (in Spanish): Aarón de Anchorena, ing vegetation this oddball oak species competes so well in. Since then there appears to be a bit of confusion una vida privilegiada, Presidencia de on its status as a distinct species – la República, Montevideo, 1998. I’ve come to better know and love the Durand oak, and can usually pick sans current and former variants Bi- each individual out from a distance. gelow oak (Q. sinuata var. breviloba [Torr.] C.H. Mull) and bluff oak (Q. Regarding identifying features, Du- austrina Small). In addition, I’m of rand oak is characterized by decidu-

Oak News & Notes tain two or three practically taperless, spotty occurrence and the unique clean sawlogs, obviously competing appearance and personality of the quite well with more commonly Durand oak, I’d especially love to known bottomland species. see more of these oaks included in and around parks, yards, schools, and At Nativ Nurseries, in Mississippi, arboretums. Considering their toler- U.S.A., where I am nursery manager, ance of and ability to compete in our bread and butter is raising oaks both calcareous, upland soils, and from acorns to one-year-old contain- poorly drained, acidic river bottoms erized seedlings, so I’ve been able to in their natural range, I believe witness tens of thousands of Durand they’d be a good candidate for trial oaks grown from seed. One of my outside of their indigenous haunts – favorite duties involves combing perhaps even into the warmer por- through a couple hundred thousand tions of USDA Planting Zone 6. seedlings every year in search of variants and F1 hybrids for inclusion Thanks to my friends at the IOS for into our seed orchards. This allows allowing me to share my thoughts on Author standing with a mature Durand me to make note of which species are this perplexing yet extraordinary oak in Clay County, MS. (Photo: Dudley more apt to hybridize in the areas we species. Feel free to contact me with Phelps) collect seed. To this day I’ve never your own thoughts and experiences found a hybrid in the Durand oak with Durand oaks, or any oak for that the opinion the currently available seedlings, but I have found several matter via my e-mail: maps (www.bonap.org and hybrids where Durand may be the [email protected]. www.plantmaps.com) delineating staminate parent, particularly Durand oak’s range appear skewed amongst the Q. alba L., Q. michauxii Dudley Phelps with what may be Bigelow, bluff, Nutt., and Q. virginiana Mill. seed- and other species. Regardless, Du- lings. These are just simple, personal rand oaks are said to occur from the observations I’ve made myself, so Carolinas to Texas, with the largest my hope is that in time their acorns populations in the separate, alkaline and resulting offspring will provide Member Spotlight: Blackland Prairie ecoregions of Mis- sissippi and Alabama, and in Texas. Peter Laharrague Other occurrences in the Southeast are spotty, which makes me think from Coronel Durand oaks may have once populat- Pringles, Argentina ed larger portions of the southeastern United States. Who are the members of the In- It has been 6 or 7 years since my first ternational Oak Society? From what encounter with that younger, stunted walks – and interests – of life do they specimen, and although I’ve become come? From Badajoz to Baton more familiar with Durand’s oak, Rouge, from Tauranga to Toronto, this species still confuses and en- we hope to be able to present at least thralls me at the same time. I once some of them in Oak News & Notes. thought they only occupied poor, If you know someone you would like upland sites such as church parking to see in in the spotlight, please let us lots, hilltops on overgrazed pastures, know! and exposed chalk banks along roadways. But then I began noticing Timber form Durand oak (center), Clay n this edition of Member Spotlight even greater specimens on the edge County, MS. (Photo: Dudley Phelps) Iwe tilt our follow spot southwards of narrow timbered drainages in the to Coronel Pringles, in Argentina, at Blackland Prairie proper. I have more clues as to their parentage. 38 degrees of latitude below the found pockets of large, timber- As an oak aficionado, I’d be hard Equator – almost exactly as far south formed Durands in slightly acidic, pit pressed not to recommend the inclu- as when we highlighted Bob Berry in and mound type, floodplain river- sion of any oak species into the land- New Zealand – to focus our attention bottom clays meandering through the scape, especially for other oak lov- on Peter Laharrague, long-time IOS prairie ecoregion. Many of these con- ers. Yet because of their somewhat member and oak collector. Like 7

Oak News & Notes trees that his father was able to ob- collection an oak grown from an tain in nurseries in Argentina. As acorn produced by the original Q. Peter puts it, “My father created his ×vilmoriniana A. Camus that used to garden without being a landscape grow in that arboretum. architect or a botanist; he just loved trees and began planting what was Through his interest in oaks he was most popular or generally planted in able to meet two other oak collectors the area: pines, cedars, cypresses, in Argentina. “I got acquainted with eucalyptus.” Duncan Cameron through an article I wrote for the Sociedad de Horticultu- In the 1980s Peter developed an inra Argentina, about the oaks I was terest in collecting oaks, perhaps, he growing in this area. Duncan read the says, because of the connection to his article then phoned me to get in con- Basque ancestors in France, in whose tact and from then on we had a very lives oaks would have played an im- deep friendship, he used to give me portant part, or simply because some plants and some of them are Peter Laharrague showing off his oak acorns are easy to germinate. “I be- still here.” An Italian member, collection. (Photo: Roderick Cameron) gan writing to nurseries, and to Kew Giuseppe Guazzone, planted oaks on some other Southern Hemisphere Gardens, who very kindly used to his farm in Argentina, and together members, Peter is engaged in the send me acorns. I always had the this trio of quercophiles were for somewhat quixotic venture of col- problem of reversed seasons, the fact many years the three musketeers of lecting a genus of plants in a part of that in October, our spring, I had to the Argentine oak scene. Sadly, Peter the world that lies a great distance sow the acorns or put them in pre- lost his two friends over the last few from the plants’ natural range. To chilling, if they were red oaks, then years, and I could not help noticing reach the closest native oak from his sow them in January, and two his eyes misting up when he talked arboretum, Peter would have to trav- months later I would have to put the about them. el over 4,600 km (2,900 mi) as the small seedlings in a greenhouse, be- crow flies, to the Colombian Andes, cause if not they would not survive, where he might find Quercus hum- being so tender.” Soon he felt the boldtii Bonpl. need to get in contact with others who shared his passion: “One day I I visited Peter and his arboretum, San saw in a publication of the Interna- Miguel, in February, in the middle of tional Society of Arboriculture a lit- the summer drought season, when he tle advertisement about the Interna- and his staff were busy providing tional Oak Society. I immediately got

essential water to his trees, both in contact. It was after their first young and old. As we walked around Conference at The Morton Arbore- the plantings of numerous genera of tum in 1994. I corresponded with trees, I had the impression that the Steve Roesch, one of the founders, person I was following, wearing the and he began sending me a lot of Basque beret of his French ancestors seed.” and clucking with satisfaction or Peter joined the IOS and later trav- frustration as the case may be, was eled to California for the second A fine specimen of Quercus crassipes Bonpl. (Photo: Roderick Cameron) not so much a tree-collector as a Conference: “The California tour shepherd tending for his flock, mak- was wonderful not only because it Planting oaks in the southwestern ing sure that they were protected opened the scope about oaks, but section of the Argentine pampas pre- from the hares, ants or wind that also about all vegetation and trees of sents several challenges. “The most threatened them, and that they had California. Then we had the seed important thing is water; water and the water they required to keep them exchange, which I have always had wind. If we don’t water the trees, we alive. to accept as a seed gift, as we can’t would lose them. If there is a fort- Peter inherited from his father a love exchange anything, coming from the night without a good rain we go out of trees and from an early age began Southern Hemisphere.” Later on Pe- and water, even in winter with the planting in his property in Argentina, ter was able to participate in Oak evergreen oaks. Water can be pro- also inherited from his father. This Open Days in France and in the provided through a hose, from a moving property came complete with an 80- cess visit arboretums such as the Ar- tank, or you can leave the 5,000-liter hectare (200-acre) park planted with boretum national des Barres. He is (1,300-gallon) tank to empty in an particularly proud of having in his

Oak News & Notes area of four or five big trees. Some- Peter’s favorite species of oak is Pyr- follow the typical masting pattern of times people say you only need to enean oak, Quercus pyrenaica Willd. northern climes: “Unlike what hap- water small trees, but big trees are One of the reasons is of course that it pens in Europe, where you have one much more demanding and some- remits to the area of the Pyrenees and good year of mast production and times they don’t give you any warn- the Basque country, the land of his then a year that is not so good, here ing and next day they are dead.” ancestors, but another reason has we have rather good production on a When planting his oaks, he prefers to more to do with its behavior in the regular basis, particularly in Q. ro- avoid the risks involved in trans- area where Peter plants it: “It is an bur, Q. rubra and Q. palustris.” He planting: “I try to plant if possible in oak that begins leafing out very late has also remarked that his oaks tend the first year after germination, di- in the season and here we have late to start fruiting at a relatively early rectly with the pot, then apply mulch frosts which have a terrible effect on age, usually after 10 or 11 years. and water and place stakes for sup- other oaks such as Q. robur that be- Since he began planting at San Mi- port as well as protection against gins leafing in September, at which guel in 1975, Peter has planted 5,548 hares, which were a great concern stage we may have one of those ter- trees (an impressive average rate of (there are fewer of them now), as rible frosts that last all night and all 150 a year), mostly grown from seed, they would gnaw the bark or break the leaves are gone and the tree must including a large number of oaks, the trees.” make an effort to sprout again. But I and in the process added on another have never had a Q. pyrenaica that 20 ha (50 ac) to the park, which cur- When I asked which part of the life was frosted because the late frosts rently covers 100 ha (250 ac). I asked cycle of an oak was his favorite, he are mid-November and they sprout him what it was that kept him going: chose that of the young tree, when it later than that. And it is lovely to see “My objective is pleasure. One day a the new leaves, visitor congratulated me because I they are like was fixing carbon. I said, ‘Thank you little rabbits, very much, but that is not my pur- covered in vel- pose, I do it for pleasure, I love vet, and the trees… just for pleasure.’” flowering is also very nice, with Roderick Cameron all the stamens.” Regarding the long-term behavior of oaks in An Odyssey Argentina, Peter with Oaks explains that there is little n 1978, Mallet Court Nursery, experience to go based in Taunton, UK, was on, as very few I Two nice young Quercus ×undulata Torr. (Photo: Roderick Cameron) reestablished as a nursery specializ- trees exist that ing in maples. The nursery’s prede- is able to take an appealing shape have been planted more than a centu- cessor had been growing maples for

through judicious pruning. But he is ry ago. “There are wonderful speci- a number of years and offered proba- not obsessed with having all his trees mens of Q. robur, Q. ilex, Q. imbri- bly the widest selection available in grow perfectly straight: “In general I caria, which grow almost at double Europe. After a few years, it was don’t prune unless there is a com- the speed they do in the Northern considered that the plants offered pletely asymmetrical or co-dominant Hemisphere. Will they last as long? comprised too narrow a range – basi- stem. I am very concerned about this Most likely not. With fellow IOS cally one genus. question of co-dominant stems be- member Duncan Cameron we found What else should be grown? After cause if they are left they can break a remarkable specimen of Q. suber in some research, a decision was made and then both stems break and you Uruguay, which is recorded in the to grow a collection of oaks. This lose the whole tree. I also try to leave Guide illustré des Chênes, and there determination was greeted with some low branches when they are not are other trees here that, when com- incredulity. Could that many people dead. For two reasons: one, because I pared with the champions in their be interested in oaks, a genus which consider they are still photosynthe- native habitat, are doing very well included so many large trees? sizing and thus helping the tree grow; for their age.” Another aspect of oak Immediately, it became obvious second, they are great protection behavior that Peter has noticed in his there were some problems. Where against mowers, tractors and the region is that oaks do not appear to and how was one to obtain stock and like.” 9

how did one grow oaks? It was one vine weevil. Only a small portion of does not grow well in England and it thing to propose, but quite another to fertilizer is used as we find too much is rare to find a good specimen. The put it into practice. Since the nursery can have the opposite effect and burn same goes for Q. virginiana Mill. Q. only grew plants from seed, acorns the roots. The acorns are first sown shumardii and Q. muehlenbergii had to be obtained and germinated. individually into 9 cm (3.5 in) pots, Engelm. are said to be limestone tol- At that time, little information on long ones being preferred. In June or erant and we will trial these over the oaks was available and few nurseries July the young oaks are repotted into next year or so. grew oaks. Little by little, by talking 2 ltr (2 qt) pots. Excellent growth is to people and reading books, achieved in the first season with Realizing the need to advertise and knowledge was obtained. It is some species. For example: Quercus tell people about this amazing and through conversation – especially phellos L. and Q. shumardii Buckley varied genus, it was decided to make customers who ask questions – that attain 90 cm (3 ft) or more, while an exhibit at a leading Flower Show. one learns. For example one fre- others are slower, like Q. velutina Early in 1994, an application was quently asked question – “do oaks Lam. Great care also has to be taken made for a site at the Chelsea Flower flower?” to be sure the tap root does not wind Show in the following year. This itself around the inside of the pot and proved to be a long and difficult road The soil in the nursery is alkaline, pH girdle itself. as any exhibit takes over a year to 7.6 to 7.8. There is a layer of about The tap root in a seedling oak is a plan and prepare. Our application 15 cm (6 in) of fertile but heavy soil food store and helps to stabilize the was granted, but only for a small site on top of limestone. It was recog- young plant. An excellent practice is which was inadequate to display over nized that this would not be 100 oaks. What was to be ideal for many species of done? We invited Sir Simon oaks. The nursery is situated Hornby, President of the in open country with fields Royal Horticultural Society, all round so it is plagued by to visit us and have tea. We rabbits and mice. A lot of agreed that the aims and ob- seed was lost to these pests jectives of the Society were at first. When visiting Wes- to promote and encourage all tonbirt Arboretum one day, I plants including woody talked to the propagator plants. He promised to help there who showed me his and shortly after we were secret. By placing the acorns offered a much larger 9 x 9 in a polythene bag with m (30 x 30 ft) site. The some old moist compost, and council of the society was putting the bag into a box or concerned if we had the ex- hanging it from rafters, he pertise to mount a satisfacto- could keep out mice. Once Fine looking oaks at Mallet Court Nursery. (Photo: James Harris) ry display or had sufficient germination commences, suitable plants. to air prune the roots, which can be which is when the radicle appears, he They appointed John Bond, Keeper done by placing the oaks on a bench sows the acorns while carefully pro- of the Saville Gardens to visit us. He with a wire frame top. Air pots are tecting them from mice. This is now reported back favorably to the Socie- now becoming available and these common practice at Mallet Court. ty. John proved to be a tower of will be trialed next season. All the Acorns are sown in the autumn and strength giving encouragement and young oaks are placed in a poly- covered with a net and guarded by providing some plants from his tunnel for winter protection. At first, innumerable mouse traps. nursery. they were protected with a covering Concerned that cultivation in the fleece. This is no longer practiced at open ground as already described The exhibit was designed to be edu- the nursery as it has been found that may not be successful, we decided to cational. All of the oaks (over 100) most oaks are perfectly hardy and do grow the oaks in pots. However, an- had to be well grown and in first not suffer even if the pots are frozen other problem arose: what pots class condition. They had to be re- for a short time. Some of the tender should be used and what medium? potted, cleaned, and in full growth at oaks are placed in a cold greenhouse Commercial compost composed of the time of the show, which was to- free from frost. peat, forest bark and grit with some wards the end of May. A booklet was

manganese and fertilizer made to our written about oaks, giving the By talking to customers, information specification is used. Insecticide is history, classification, and descrip- about oaks in cultivation has been added to the mix to protect against tion with drawings. Much support obtained. For example, Q. alba L.

Oak News & Notes and help was given by Kevin Nixon for this we were provided with a and other kind friends from the US. A Sunny Day good map, an accessions list that in- To show the usefulness of oak wood, in the UK dicated where the trees were located a local craftsman made a table, litter and a stern reminder that we were bin and display boards from red oak. n the morning of July 29, 40 expected back at Jermyn’s House at a A map of the world was prepared O oak enthusiasts from Belgium, quarter past four for refreshments. showing where oaks grew in nature, the Czech Republic, France, the together with photographs of oaks in Netherlands, Italy, and the United flower. Kingdom met in Jermyn’s House at the Sir Harold Hillier Gardens (Rom- sey, Hampshire) for the first Oak Open Day of the year. A grey sky and abundant rain set the tone while participants enjoyed their tea and biscuits, greeting old friends and meeting new ones. No sooner had the army of umbrellas stepped outside but did an indignant sun appear, chasing away clouds and rain RHS Award presented to Mallet Court forever! Nursery. (Photo: James Harris) Quercus delavayi Franch. (Photo: Nick Macer) The Sir Harold Hillier Gardens is one In early May, three weeks before the of the two national collections of It is not possible to give here a de- show, a severe frost was experi- Quercus in the UK and many of the tailed account of all of our afternoon enced. The overnight temperature accessions were collected in the wild adventures so I shall just mention a fell to -4 °C (25 °F). The center piece by IOS Board member and former tree that certainly marked the day for for the exhibit was to have been a President Allen Coombes, who me. I was fortunate to have latched fine specimen of Q. robur ‘Pendula’ worked at the Gardens for nearly on to Nick Macer (IOS member who standing over 3.5 m (11 ft). At that thirty years. Indeed, as part of the also used to work at the Gardens) size there was no place in the poly- welcome speeches, Allen had sent a who showed me the way to Q. tunnel. In the morning, it was found message that included, amidst his delavayi Franch. I don’t think I’ve that all the young foliage had been fond memories, a mission for the ever seen a more beautiful oak tree. burnt! day: we were to look at two of his collections, a Quercus senescens The day was deliciously brought to a When we arrived at Chelsea, we Hand.-Mazz. and a Q. rehderiana close with a beautiful oak-themed found that John had edged the site Hand.-Mazz., to try and determine if chocolate cake tailor-made to IOS with oak logs all beautifully butted the former is indeed Q. senescens or member Dorothy Holley’s specifica- together. It was a huge boost to our a hybrid of the two. To be continued tions for the event. morale as we were somewhat over- in International Oaks, No. 25… whelmed by the size of the site. It Many thanks to Wolfgang Bopp, took three days to set up the exhibit – For the morning visit to the part of Barry Clarke and David Jewell of the the first exhibit with living plants. the Gardens called Brentry Wood- Gardens for their hospitality and ef- Over 120 different oaks were dis- land, the group was divided into two forts, and to our Tour Director, played in the exhibit, which was – one was led by Barry Clarke, the Shaun Haddock, and Vice-President, awarded a gold medal and brought other by David Jewell. Here can be Charles Snyers for bringing us to- about an immediate interest in oaks. found very nice specimens of Q. af- gether for such a splendid day. The booklet was also immensely finis Scheidw., Q. greggii (A. DC.) popular and has since been translated Trel. and one of its hybrids (with Q. Béatrice Chassé into French. glabrescens Benth.), and many, The cultivation of oaks goes on. The many more wonderful trees. It goes search for acorns and the continued without saying that we never have acquisition of knowledge of this enough time to both look at all the wonderful genus progresses still. trees we want to see and enjoy the company of friends, new and old. James Harris After a very nice lunch, the second half of the day was self-guided and

11 Oak News & Notes The Editorial Committee has pre- and a new member renewal process From the Board pared a new layout for International on our website have allowed us to Oaks, a Manual of Style, new Guide- streamline our work and make the Three Board meetings have been lines for Authors, and a new web process easier and more convenient held since the new Board was in- page reflecting the structure of the for our members. Of the 180 mem- stalled at the end of 2012. Various Society bership payments received over the items have been dealt with and many (www.internationaloaksociety.org/no past year, 101 were initiated on our of these in response to concerns from de/38). Ryan Russell, Editor of website. Prompt renewal keeps In- the membership. These include hav- ON&N proposed to do the desktop ternational Oaks on a stable financial ing more structure to Board activi- publishing in-house – this represents footing, helps us plan how many ties, increasing input from our com- significant savings to the Society. journals to print and ensures that you mittees and formalizing certain pro- Many thanks to Ryan for his time will receive all of our publications in cedures important to our member- and efforts! To ensure timely report- a timely way. As our renewal process ship. ing of tours and events, these will be begins this fall, please consider re- The Finance Committee has provided included briefly in ON&N, with newing online. the Board with updated financial in- fuller accounts appearing in Interna- A few quick tips to make online re- formation allowing pertinent deci- tional Oaks. The Editorial Commit- newal easier: sions on expenditures to be made. tee recommended to the Board the -Let us know if you change your e- Various issues on membership man- inclusion of oak-related advertise- mail address. We want to make sure agement have been discussed and ments in the newsletter and this was we’re reaching you. reported to the Board. A very im- agreed. -Make sure the membership@ portant issue is the cost and time in- internationaloaksociety.org e-mail The Taxonomy Committee is work- volved in the renewal process due address is on your approved senders ing towards resolving the problems mainly to late renewals (see this list. Otherwise our messages may not involved in updating the core species page). reach you and your membership list and cultivar information in our could lapse before you realize it. database www.oaknames.org. The The Website Committee, headed by -For non-US members: Create an Board has agreed that the technology account with PayPal. This world- Charles Snyers, Vice-President and of this database needs upgrading and Website Administrator, has been ac- wide electronic fund transfer system has asked Charles Snyers to review allows you to make secure member- tive on many fronts (finance, mem- costs. bership management, electronic ship payments (US members can pay newsletter mailings, assisting the through PayPal without having to We are very pleased that the 2015 create an account). Tour Committee, etc.). In order to Conference Committee has already stimulate use of the website by the For more information, go to: taken up the job and communicated www.paypal.com. membership, Roderick Cameron has with the Board on this. been appointed Website Editor. Get- ting new content for the website has Gert Fortgens Emily Griswold high priority and suggestions from the membership are welcome. There are plans to create an e-bulletin whilst maintaining ON&N in its current form. Save Paper and The Tour Committee has been very Points of Contact active in putting together an Agenda Time by Renewing of Activities (see page 4). Thanks to the membership management tools Early Online Submissions for the Newsletter available on our website, simple pro- Ryan Russell - Roderick Cameron cedures now exist for contacting par- [email protected] ticipants. As a reminder to members: ast year, along with a series of please be sure that we have your cur- L website upgrades, we launched rent e-mail address so that you do not our first paperless renewal process. Submissions for the Journal Paper mailings are time-intensive for miss any of this valuable infor- Béatrice Chassé - Allen Coombes mation! our volunteer board, costly with ris- [email protected] ing postage, and wasteful of resources. E-mail renewal reminders