Black Oak Spring

I’m a sucker for color, so it’s not surprising that the black oak (Quercus kelloggii in western North America) has emerged as my favorite oak. Vibrant fall colors and tender red leaflets in spring make me gape in wonder.

California black oak is the only deciduous tree in the red oak section, produces male and female flowers on a single tree, and can live up to 500 years. Black oaks are a critical for wildlife, providing acorns for food for many species, and also nesting areas for birds, squirrels and even black bears.

Acorns constitute an average of 50% of the fall and winter diets of western gray squirrels and black-tailed deer during abundant acorn seasons, known as mast years. Fawn survival rates increase or decrease with the size of the acorn crop.

fall leaves black oak in fall

Native Americans used black oak to treat a wide variety of ailments and often prefered black oak acorns over those of other species for making acorn meal. Historically, Native Americans recognized the importance of fire to this oak and purposely lit fires in oak woodlands to promote its health and ensure their food source.

Photo: Oregon State Univ.

developing acorns

Quercus Kelloggii

The scientific name for California black oaks honors Albert Kellogg who was lured to California by the gold rush and, for a time, practiced medicine in San Francisco, although not successfully. His passion for plants was the focus of most of his energy and attention and he tended to neglect his office hours and patients. Kellogg was one of seven men who formed the California Academy of Sciences and was the Academy’s first curator of botany.

Kellogg captured my attention and gratitude when I learned that he had championed the inclusion of women in the Academy. It became one of the first institutions in the world to recognize and encourage the ability of women in the scientific and intellectual sphere.

black oak spring leaves and catkins first leaves of spring

Writing is gnawing the marrow from the bones of observation and experience and metabolizing them into thoughts and stories.

The first duty of a writer is to gather the bones.