If you are unfamiliar with our local Garry Oak (Quercus garryana) trees, let me tell you a little about them. These are those strong trees full of character that you see off of I-5 as you pass between Tacoma and Olympia, particularly around Joint Base Lewis McCord. They look different from any of our other Washington trees–very distinct, with thick trunks and wide crowns–they all look weathered and old.
Garry Oaks were a major part of the indigenous people’s lives before Europeans came. They are also very important to wildlife. Over 200 different butterfly and moth caterpillars feed on them!
Read more about their importance HERE. Watch a fun video with a beautiful tree HERE. See a photo of an ancient tree HERE.
Like the plot of some 1980s Hallmark special starring Marie Osmond and Richard Thomas, my brother and I had the same gifting idea for my birthday/Christmas. I ordered a pound of Garry Oak acorns from Etsy and my plan was to pot them into tennis ball cans wrapped with festive acorn fabric and gift them to family and friends for a Very Garry Christmas. I thought this was exceedingly clever. When apprised of this plan, Leon, my more honest half (played by Morgan Fairchild in the above-mentioned movie, or possibly Joan Collins), reminded me that just because I am very Garry crazy, no one else is… And then, for my birthday, my sweet brother ordered a Garry Oak tree for my yard! So, I’m even more Garry-addicted.
Time and cursed reality squelched my enthusiasm for creating fancy Garry gifts. However, today I planted ten acorns for myself.
Why tennis ball cans? Well, I play tennis a lot and it seems a waste to throw these away without using them for something. They have the deep shape that tree roots should like. And I can check the progress of acorn roots through the clear sides.
I don’t need ten Garry Oak trees in my yard, but I will gift them or guerilla-garden them into some parks or open places that could use a keystone tree species. I’ve already forced some acorns on my good friends, Brian and Dean in Happy Valley, Oregon. They are being good sports about adding native plants to their new garden. And after all, Garry Oaks are also called Oregon White Oaks.
Tomorrow, I plan to package the rest of the acorns three or five to a bag and then post a notice on Nextdoor offering them free to neighbors who will pick them up, contact-free, from a box on the porch. I can’t think of a better way to end 2020 than to plant a mighty oak seed with all the promise that it holds for the planters and for wildlife for miles around.
I’m not Johnny Appleseed, but maybe I am Tony Acorn…
Garry Christmas, Everyone!