6.11. 2024: Neu in unserem Shop
New in our store:
Quercus georgiana
Quercus alnifolia
Quercus infectoria subsp. veneris
Quercus senescens
Quercus mexicana x grahamii
Quercus acutissima
Quercus coccifera subs. calliprinos
12.10.2024: New Facebook group “Oaklovers – Quercus international”
Oaklovers – Quercus international. There is a new group on Facebook – “Oaklovers – Quercus international”. You can join here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/518874377741330
Hobby and exchange in Oaklovers – Quercus international
Growing oak trees is a wonderful hobby. It decelerates, it calms, it grounds. And it helps us humans to create something meaningful, to realize that we can be a productive part of the whole. And of course, even if it is actually a classic “solitary hobby”, it makes sense to talk about the specimens of the genus “Quercus” from time to time. After all, there are around 600 Quercus species.
An exchange is now possible on Facebook (see above). Which species could this be? What general conditions need to be considered for different species? Where can you get good seed? Who might swap acorns? Which species can be discovered in which botanical garden? There is a lot to discuss.
Quercus-related species from the beech family (Fagacea) can also be discussed. By the way, from time to time small acorn shipments are raffled off among the members of the group. So it makes sense to actively participate in the group.
Of course you will also find dates here, e.g. dates for https://www.internationaloaksociety.org/. Or also information on special oak species for sale, e.g. here: https://quercus.guru/shop/.
Small competitions are also held from time to time: e.g. “Who sends the ‘most beautiful’ oak photo?”, or: “Who knows a particularly spectacular oak species?” etc.
Meaningfulness
You can also explain your motivations there. Why do you grow oak trees? What significance does it have for you? Do you want to do something for nature conservation or climate protection? What is the core of your enthusiasm for oaks?
10.10.24: Quercus hartwissiana (Hartwiss oak)
Quercus hartwissiana (Hartwiss oak) is found in regions south and east of the Black Sea. It grows in south-eastern Bulgaria, Anatolia and Caucasia.
It is a deciduous tree that can grow up to 35 meters high.
More info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quercus_hartwissiana
In the store: https://quercus.guru/produkt/quercus-hartwissiana/
10.10.2024: First acorns of the new season are expected
The first acorns of the 2024 season are expected shortly from arboretums/collectors in France and Bulgaria. please subscribe to the newsletter for more information: https://quercus.guru/newsletter/.
Dear people,
The time for acorn deliveries in 2024 is beginning very slowly.
Came in today: Quercus hartwissiana.
Expected in the next 3 weeks:
Quercus acerifolia
Quercus crassipes
Quercus eduardi
Quercus aff. galeanensis
Quercus x heterophylla
Quercus hirtifolia
Quercus mexicana
Many more species will follow in late fall/winter
Among them will (hopefully) be some real surprises, really great and rare acorns.
In addition, many species from Southern Europe and North Africa.
e.g.
Quercus canariensis
Quercus infectoria subsp. veneris
Quercus alnifolia
Quercus ithaburensis
From around January/February 2025, for example, from the USA
Quercus kelloggii
Quercus wislizeni
Quercus chrysolepi
Quercus tomentella
Quercus macrocarpa (big)
Hopefully too:
Quercus buckleyii
Quercus comptonae
Quercus falcata
Quercus hemisphaerica
Quercus imbricaria
Quercus laurifolia
Quercus laevis
Quercus lyrata
Quercus margaretta
Quercus marilandica
Quercus muehlenbergii
Quercus nuttallii
Quercus obtusa
Quercus polymorha
Quercus prinus
Quercus prinoides
Quercus shumardii
Quercus stellata
Quercus texana
Quercus velutina
Quercus virginiana
Quercus virginiana fusiformis
…and perhaps a few more surprises (acorns).
Take a look at our store soon: https://quercus.guru/shop/
Planting oak trees is a wonderful hobby. It’s a joy to see the little acorns sprout, to accompany the tender little plants, to nurture and care for them. One day they will grow up and grow old. They will outlive us and we will be able to leave something meaningful to the world.
Several oak species can live for well over 500 years, they provide food for many wild animals, they cool the environment, they can contribute to combating global warming. They provide life and can accompany us for a lifetime.
There is a lot to consider. The quality of the seed, the soil, the method of planting, liming, acidification, protection against too much water (or too little). It is a wonderful task to create and do something for the environment.
Growing tree species resistant to global warming
Tree species resistant to global warming
A wonderful hobby: growing tree species that are resistant to global warming. It’s fun, it calms you down, you have the feeling of “doing something”, of making a small contribution to resilience. One thing is certain: native species are extremely important for supporting biodiversity. Unfortunately, it is also fairly certain that many native species will have a hard time in 30 or 40 years, as we need species that are adapted to the heat.
Whenever there is a bit of time, we indulge in this lovely hobby in the evenings and repot seedlings grown from seed. Many, many tree seedlings have made it, and climate warming-resistant tree species are now growing. Many oak species (including native species such as Quercus petraea, the sessile oak) but also several species from global “hot zones”. Quercus douglasii, for example (the blue oak from California), or Quercus faginea (the Portuguese oak). Tree species that are resistant to global warming will also be of great service to us here, even if they are still unfamiliar.
And a classic “secret weapon”. Castanea sativa, the sweet chestnut. It can cope with extreme heat and drought and has already made itself at home in southern Germany. Available here in our store, for example.
Many plant species are protected with sheep’s wool. This retains moisture for a very long time. Even tree species that are resistant to global warming initially require strong protection. Clay balls and vermiculite (a layered silicate used to loosen the soil and store moisture) are used for this purpose. The joy is particularly great when initially weak seedlings gain a big boost due to a change in the soil. Clay balls and vermiculite, for example, ensure that the soil becomes more permeable to oxygen (here is an interesting article on vermiculite: https://vermiculite.de/anwendungen/vermiculite-pflanzenzucht/gemueseanbau-und-blumenzucht/, coffee powder and goat manure, for example, provide much-needed nutrients (depending on the tree species).
I’m really looking forward to it: In the fall and winter, lots of fresh seeds are coming in, from all over the world. Heat-resistant, hardy, drought-resistant, including many acorn and oak species.
27.7.2024: Oak species from California
Acorns and oak species from California
The first species for this year have been selected. In winter 2024, oak species come from California (in the form of acorns). E.g. Quercus lobata (Californian white oak), Quercus x jolonensis and Quercus douglasii (blue oak). This year also: Quercus kellogii (California black oak), Quercus wislizeni and Quercus chrysolepis (canyon oak). After a long, long search I finally managed to find someone who sends acorns of Quercus tomentella from California, but only a very limited number (100 pieces). Oak species from California are special because they are very well adapted to a warming climate. Quercus tomentella is a rarity that is difficult to obtain (see https://en.wikipe dia.org/wiki/Quercus_tomentella). This species originally only occurs on the Channel Islands off California and on “Guadelaupe Island”. This species is highly endangered. It forms hybrids with Querrcus chrysolepis. Quercus tomentella is also known as the island oak. The acorns will probably arrive here at the end of February/March 2025. Quercus kellogii can reach heights of up to 35 meters.
It can be found as far as the border with Mexico.
It grows on slopes at altitudes between 300 and 2400 meters.
It prefers drier soils.
Oak growth through sheep’s wool
Oak growth through sheep’s wool
Many oak species are grown here using sheep’s wool. Oak growth through sheep’s wool is impressive. Even Quercus dentata and Quercus suber grow excellently due to the phosphates in the wool.
We currently have 32 sheep and goats living on the farm. They provide peace and quiet in hectic everyday life, graze on wildflower meadows and enjoy the summer.
More of the four-legged friends were clipped today so that they can get through the year well, it can still be scorching hot.
Soil substrates for growing oak trees
Several repotted oaks, Quercus pyrenaica, Quercus suber, Quercus frainetto, Quercus macrocarpa, Quercus acerifolia, Quercus dentata, all benefit from oak growth through sheep wool. If they are large, they should help to cool the planet.
There is a lot of experimentation with soil substrates here. Sandy soil, loamy soil, lime substrate, sheep’s wool (retains moisture) and provides phosphates, coffee powder (makes the soil acidic) and well-seasoned horse manure.
Sometimes also chicken and duck manure, pig manure, etc.
It is so interesting how you can influence the growth of rare oak species. A science in itself. I’ll write a book about it one day. It is grounding (in the truest sense of the word) to have this hobby. You deal with the essential things of existence. How can life thrive, how do trees grow, what can be done to promote rare oak species? I’m always delighted when seedlings have grown a bit bigger again after a year.
And people peer curiously out of the poke baskets. These are now bursting at the seams 🙂
If you want to buy oaks: https://quercus.guru/shop/.
Soil substrates are available free of charge on request.
Buy oaks. The sale of seedlings starts. 21.06.2024
Buying oak trees is now possible here. Small seedlings at first. We didn’t get rid of all the acorns last year, so many of them could be sown. The germination rate was very good (around 85%), at least if the soil mixture was properly cared for.
Buy oaks
In this first year, various species from Mexico, some from Asia and also species from the south of the USA are distributed, including some very rare bangers. We use the proceeds to cover the costs of our Brödel sanctuary in Melle and our climate and species protection measures(http://umweltschutz-und-lebenshilfe.de). In the fall, the sale of acorns of all kinds begins again. Take a look at our oak store: https://quercus.guru/shop/.
