By Anne Rowlands
Of course Doug Tallamy would write a book about oaks. TThe University of Delaware entomologist has been praising and raising awareness of Quercus for years in his widely popular books and lectures, and this newest book is fascinating. It’s a really useful field guide – not only to oaks, but also to the myriad species that play a part in the oak ecosystem. “Oaks support more forms of life and more fascinating interactions than any other tree genus in North America,” writes Tallamy. The content drives that home. I found this little book (200 pages) to be written for those who want to dive into the science of both the tree and its denizens, aided by Tallamy’s abundant and fascinating descriptions and photos.
The Nature of Oaks is laid out to allow the reader to follow the seasonal, month-by-month progression of oak growth and interspecies interaction. A boatload of interesting characters hosted and attracted by oaks are
featured – you’ll meet the eaters and the eaten while gaining a better understanding of the interconnected lives
of oak-centric birds, insects and mammals.
Did you know that oak leaves, once on the ground and slow to decompose (if you leave them in place!), have a dampening effect on both Japanese stiltgrass and Asian jumping worms? That’ll make you think twice about raking those precious leaves up and – heaven forbid – getting rid of them. Declaring, “A yard without oaks is a yard meeting only a fraction of its life support potential,” Tallamy includes an in-depth section on planting an oak (preferably from an acorn), along with a comprehensive list of oak species, their sizes, and their native range.
It seems to me that the book would be really useful as a guide for teaching children about the natural world – it’s a superb resource and jumping off point for all sorts of observations and studies that could take place over the four seasons, a valuable tool for teaching natural history. What? No oak in the yard? A family or classroom could plant an acorn together, following Tallamy’s advice, and let the world of an oak unfold before them. When you plant an oak, you plant an ecosystem.
Tree lovers, insect lovers, nature lovers, bird watchers, oak lovers – give The Nature of Oaks a read and get to know your oak like the benevolent old friend it is.
The Nature of Oaks: The Rich Ecology of Our Most Essential Native Trees
200 pages, $27.95 – ISBN 978-1-64326-045-7
Timber Press – timberpress.com
