A Year With the Trees

I write "A Year With the Trees" to bring an awareness to the world about the importance of trees to the future of our planet. Planting and being stewards of trees native to where you live is of vital importance for the health of animals, insects, birds, all life, including our own. I am studying the trees that are native to Southern Appalachia, where I live. This blog illustrates 92 trees and why we need to be responsible to keep native plant communities alive and well.

Wednesday, November 11, 2026

Willow Oak - Quercus phellos

Fagaceae - Beech Family
"A Year With the Trees" - Tree Number 42
Willow Oak
Quercus phellos
February 11, May 11, August 11, November 11

Spring

May 11


Quercus phellos - The Willow Oak

The Willow Oak is similar to the other willows; however, easy to distinguish from the others by the acorns and bristle tips on the end of the leaves.

Many birds and small mammals depend on the acorns of this tree for food throughout the winter.

Quercus phellos - Willow Oak

Summer

August 11

The Willow Oak is a beautiful tree. This one lives at the Botanical Gardens of Asheville, North Carolina
http://ashevillebotanicalgardens.org/wordpress_3/

The way to ID a willow oak this time of year is by the leaf. The leaf is very narrow, simple, alternate, up to 5 inches long and 1 inch wide. The leaf has a bristle tip and the margins have no teeth. The surface of the leaf is smooth and the underside may have hairs along the midrib.

The Willow Oak in the summer.

Fall

November 11

The Willow Oak Tree

This tree lives at the Asheville Botanical Gardens by the Gazebo and the creek. Today, the leaves are beautiful in red and orange. www.ashevillebotanicalgardens.org

Winter

December 11

I will be adding my Winter Photo soon....

The Champion Willow Oak in the United States.
http://www.americanforests.org/big-trees/willow-oak-quercus-phellos-2/

WILLOW OAK

QUERCUS PHELLOS

This champion Willow Oak of Virginia made its debut on the list of American Forests Champion Trees in , as it is the largest known tree of its species in the country. By recognizing these champions, we recognize the beauty and critical ecosystem services provided by our biggest and oldest trees.

LOCATION	Northampton, VA
Nominated by	Jack Wilkins
Year Nominated 2013

STATUS	CHAMPION
TREE CIRCUMFERENCE	328
HEIGHT	105
CROWN SPREAD	137
TOTAL POINTS	467

For the love of the trees,

Becky

from my journal...

Chestnut Oak - Quercus montana

Fagaceae - Beech Family
"A Year With the Trees" - Tree Number 41

Chestnut Oak
Quercus montana

February 10, May 10, August 10, and November 10

Spring

May 10

Quercus montana- Chestnut Oak

Brightly colored young Chestnut Oak leaves are coming out of their buds in the spring.

The leaves of the chestnut oak are wavy edged. The Oak is late putting out it's spring leaves. The April leaves are still quite small.

Summer

August 10

The Chestnut Oak in July; the acorns are growing.

Young developing Chestnut oak acorns and late summer leaves

The Chestnut Oak Tree in July

The leaves of the Chestnut tree are simple, alternate, and wavy (almost toothed) edged. These leaves can be up to 10 inches long and 3 inches wide. The acorns are coming out now and are still green. This tree usually grows up to 80 feet in height.

Fall

November 10

The Chestnut Oak and the Wheel Bugs in September

This amazing tree complete with the wheel bugs lives right outside my window. I follow the changes of the seasons with this beautiful tree. Now that it is September, its leaves are changing. The leaves have little holes in them; and the green is darker, not the same green it was when the leaves first appeared. Acorns and insects are all over the Chestnut Oak outside my window on this bright September day.

The wheel bugs are a type of assassin beetle. The wheel bug is considered a beneficial insect because it eats harmful insects, such as sawflys, aphids and Japanese beetles. It is not a good idea to handle these bugs for they bite and the bite is said to be painful. The good news is that these bugs do not come after you. They are very slow (said to be one of slowest bugs ever) and will not bother you unless you bother them.

During late summer the Wheel bugs mate and the female will lay her eggs in the twigs of the tree. The female will lay 40-200 eggs only once. She will die soon after laying her eggs and possibly eating her mate as well. Yikes! They are known to be efficient assassins; they come complete with armor, weapon, and poison for killing their prey. Thus, the name, assassin.

This chestnut oak lives beside my house. It is my favorite chestnut oak. This tree is so tall and majestic in every season. It reminds me to stand tall and lift my arms to the sky. When I do that, I am in the present moment and when we are present, we are in our power.

Winter

February 10

The Chestnut Oak in winter.

The leaves are still lingering on the Chestnut Oak Trees. The bark is dark gray to brown, and the twigs are reddish brown and smooth. The buds are acute and 1/2 inch long. The acorns are about 1-1.5 inches long, with a deep bowl shape enclosing half the nut.

For the love of the trees,
Becky

A page from my journal