26.11.: Climate trees: Obtaining first-class seeds
Climate trees: first-class seeds for sale
Many interesting climarobust species have been supplied. For example Ostrya carpinifolia, the European hop hornbeam. It thrives in large parts of the Mediterranean region, from Provence to Greece. The almond tree (Prunus dulcis) is of course also interesting and a real eye-catcher. Who doesn’t dream of it? To have a beautifully flowering almond tree in your garden (as a potted plant) in spring. Mediterranean flair in your own home. Or the olive (Olea europaea), which is usually found in Italy, Spain or Greece. The climate is changing rapidly. Of course, global warming is not good at all, but for the flora it means that many “climate trees” are now also migrating to Central Europe. And they are still guaranteed hot and dry summers.
Of course, there can still be freezing cold winters, so always bear the “hardiness zone” in mind when growing plants. Many species from hot regions are therefore better grown in pots that can be brought indoors in January, for example, if necessary. Something like this can look wonderful: A large terracotta pot and an almond tree, a caper bush or a chestnut tree in it. It creates the flair of a vacation in Tuscany, Sicily or southern Spain. And of course you are contributing to diversity.
Growing plants “from seed” is a great pleasure, and then there are the climatic trees 🙂 You look after the little seedlings, are happy when they get bigger, at some point they form the first buds, create the first shade growth…Wonderful.
Here is a brief overview
E.G. we now have: Pistachio tree (Pistacia vera)
Feijoa sellowiana (Brazilian guava)
Calycanthus floridus (true spice bush)
Cupressus arizonica (Arizonacypress)
Acacia dealbata (silver acacia)
Myrtus communis (myrtle)
Capparis spinosa (caper bush)
“Wild olive” (Olea europaea var oleaster)
Red horse chestnut (Aesculus carnea)
Black walnut (Juglans nigra)
Take a look at the store: https://quercus.guru/produkt-kategorie/andere-baeume-ausser-eicheln/
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
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.
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/.
16.06.2024: Mexican oak species
Mexican oak species
The work at the oak nursery is wonderful. It is grounding (in the truest sense of the word), it decelerates, and it is an absolute privilege to “work” with oak species, some of which have become very rare, and which sometimes only exist in small
corners of the world. Fortunately, there are many, many collectors all over the world, and we use the proceeds to finance part of our animal and species protection measures.
In the pictures you can see many Mexican oak species. The leaves look very different from those of oaks, but they are still Quercus specimens. Here you can see, for example: Quercus depressa, Quercus jolonensis (USA), Quercus hypoxantha, Quercus douglasii (USA), Quercus hypoleucoides, Quercus aff. miqhuihuanensis, Quercus sinuata var breviloba.
Animal company
You always have a lot of company when working at the oak breeding station. The storks rattle and rumble, it won’t be long before the two young storks fly out.
Right next to the oak station is our infirmary for our poultry. We currently have some ducks and chickens (along with their husbands/wives) here due to various fox attacks. Some were seriously injured and are treated 2 to 3 times a day.
They are slowly recovering and will fortunately survive the fox attacks.
Ducks in particular are very social animals (similar to geese),
that their partners need in everyday life, which is why they are treated here as a group. Two young ducks hatched by a wild duck are very funny (and fortunately unharmed).
One of the ducks appears to be a hybrid between a dwarf duck and a wild duck. The two tiny creatures do everything together and entertained me very well during the oak treatment today 🙂
Unfortunately, the foxes have taken various animals from the forest (the place is teeming with fox dens). Unfortunately, that’s part of it. It is impossible to completely fence off the 4 hectares of grace farm land from foxes and the puppies are also hungry.
Next to the infirmary (hermetically fenced) and the oak ward are some flowering meadows that we have planted. The meadow daisy is currently in bloom, as are St. John’s wort, meadow knapweed and meadow bedstraw.
Sheep and goats graze there on separate areas in the sense of staggered mowing. After mowing, they move on to other areas. On the claws and in the fur: seeds. In this way, they played cab for biodiversity.
And this is also wonderfully relaxing and alleviates the everyday hassle of “normal work” in the office.
Promoting diversity
Ok, Mexican oak species are not necessarily a benefit for the native fauna, but it still makes sense to preserve, nurture and care for these species too. Just like many other oak species from all over the world.
