windthread

recent posts

about

oak galls

20220220_144731

 


20220220_144713

this last summers,  smaller than usual,  most pingpong ball sized.   Many are ordinarily twice as big.   Most likely the excessive heat.

the Hill has 3 kinds of Oak…. Live Oak,  the ones that are most prevalent  in this Forest,  evergreen.  Then Valley Oak and Scrub Oak,  both  deciduous.    I have never seen a gall in Live Oak…only Valley and Scrub.  Almost all here are down by the creek.  Have never taken "fresh" ones,  not knowing if they were being used by the wasps.   Even old dried up ones will give dye.  For sure would be a source of tannin.  

 

Posted in

14 responses to “oak galls”

  1. maria Avatar
    maria

    this is new for me , have never see those big oak galls , we have just winter oak, summer oak , american oak with red leaves in fall , holly oak , stone oak

    Like

    Reply
  2. jude Avatar
    jude

    nothing like that here.

    Like

    Reply
  3. Liz A Avatar
    Liz A

    some of the Texas live oaks have small, pea=sized galls on the underside of the leaves … and as I write, the live oak overhanging our back fence is beginning its annual shed, after which the new leaves will appear, seemingly overnight … I will try to document that in Looking Up

    Like

    Reply
  4. CatherinE Avatar
    CatherinE

    I would be gathering those for sure. I have never seen an oak gall here. I’ll look more closely this year.

    Like

    Reply
  5. Joanne in Maine Avatar
    Joanne in Maine

    No oaks that make galls here in Maine. I checked with the State Horticulture department. the soil is not what they like, I guess or no one brought them here from away. Plenty of regular oaks.

    Like

    Reply
  6. Yvette Avatar
    Yvette

    Big gals…never seen this big…….lucky lady
    Love

    Like

    Reply
  7. Deb G Avatar
    Deb G

    I keep looking but haven’t found them. I have tried the galls on my dog rose for dye but they don’t do much for color, just smell divine, like green apples.

    Like

    Reply
  8. grace Forrest Avatar
    grace Forrest

    it is because of the insect’s needs

    Like

    Reply
  9. grace Forrest Avatar
    grace Forrest

    interesting

    Like

    Reply
  10. grace Forrest Avatar
    grace Forrest

    that would be as the Live Oak here. it’s quite grand.

    Like

    Reply
  11. grace Forrest Avatar
    grace Forrest

    to learn Why, some places, not others…..

    Like

    Reply
  12. grace Forrest Avatar
    grace Forrest

    i have no idea what all this might mean

    Like

    Reply
  13. grace Forrest Avatar
    grace Forrest

    these are small

    Like

    Reply
  14. grace Forrest Avatar
    grace Forrest

    smell divine….that would be something to love….

    Like

    Reply

Leave a comment