More Spring Blooms

More evidence that you don't have to walk very far to take-in more of Ma Nature's work just take a stroll around the yard to take it in.  

We planted this tree in the front yard twenty-two years ago.  It was one year-old bare root stock; a pencil-size twig.  And for the longest time we never thought it would amount to anything.

It's grown into a handsome young oak tree. The species is Northern Pin Oak (Quercus ellipsoidalis) commonly known as a Hill's oak.

Only a few weeks ago I noticed that the tree had large numbers of catkins hanging from the branches as the leaves of 2026 emerged from their buds.

Yes, oak trees have blossoms too.  These are one of the flowers that are produced by a tree – the male flower to be certain.  This species is monoecious – meaning that it produces both male and female flowers.  Each male flower typically has six stamens (ranges from two to twelve) which have long spreading white filaments when the flower fully opens.  The female flowers are more reddish-green and appear as small slender spikes in the axils of new growth.  

I gave this tree a thorough examination and could find no flowers of the female persuasion. Not surprising inasmuch as they are not visible to the naked eye.  Doh!

Anyway, last week there was this...

click on image for a closer look

The male catkin flowers are still there and If you look carefully you can see itty-bitty immature acorns beginning to develop from the female flowers. 

Those acorns will mature by the close of summer and the critters will hoover them up.