Baby white oaks

We welcome another grand tree species to Hardwood Hermitage.  White oak (quercus alba) acorns were planted on our south hill last fall.  Several baby trees can be seen now, like the one pictured here.

Unquestionably one of the greatest trees, white oak has tremendous aesthetic virtues.  The burgundy fall color on those round lobes is fantastic.

A white oak weighs about 46 pounds per cubic foot.  They are very valuable as lumber and firewood.  The cells in the wood are totally closed, unlike red oak.  Thus, quercus alba has been used throughout history in places that you don't want liquid to permeate, such as ship building and wine barrels.

We'll never see the white oaks we plant get to enormous proportions, but the majesty of this highly desirable species can't be denied.  More will go in brush cut spots we're working on this summer.