sierraclub.org - sierra magazine - march/april 2013 - year-life-lonely-oak - that tree: a year in the life of a lonely oak
Photos by Mark Hirsch | Text by Della Watson
The tree is surrounded by cornfields and switch grass. The field normally produces a hearty crop, but the hot, dry summer took its toll. "That field has always been a pretty good producer, but this year corn yields were marginal because of the drought," Hirsch says. Oak trees, however, produce bounty from poor conditions. "Trees respond to drought by producing as many acorns as possible," he notes. "The tree's reaction is to propagate. This year there was an incredible crop of acorns."