a closer look at trees (days 48, 49 and 50)
~
One of the natural history lessons learned during my trip to California concerned the oak. On a trip to ‘Safari West’ near Santa Rosa, our guide pointed out the scarred trunks of various trees. The bark was embedded with acorns! The Acorn Woodpecker places the acorns in holes in the bark of these trees, storing them for a later source of food. The storage trees or ‘granaries’ are used over and over through the years!
~
acorns planted in a ‘granary’ tree by the Acorn Woodpecker
~
Perhaps as a result of seeing so many new tree species in California, I have looked more closely at the trees I see in Street View as I cycle ‘virtually’ along the Cornwall coast. Identification is usually difficult since the images do not show details. However, occasionally a leafy branch is close enough to see the leaves clearly. So far, I have seen the Common Ash, the Field Maple, and the English Oak. In the image below, you can see the lobed leaves of the English Oak.
~
lobed leaves of an English Oak along the road to St. Anthony (image from Street View)
~
map showing distance travelled (map from Google Earth)
~
7-48 November 21, 2013 30 minutes 3.0 km (from Mawgan to St. Martin)
~
November 26, 2013 ‘oak on Fords Hill’ Jane Tims
~
7-49 November 23, 2013 35 minutes 3.0 km (from St. Martin to Helford)
~
November 26, 2013 ‘maple and oak near Helford’ Jane Tims
~
7-50 November 25, 2013 30 minutes 3.0 km (from Helford to St. Anthony-in-Meneage)
~
Oak and Ash along the road to St. Anthony (image from Street View)
~
Copyright 2013 Jane Tims
nichepoetryandprose 
I'd love to hear what you think...