MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • February 26, 2023
Douglas Tallamy in “The Nature of Oaks” (2021) writes that one of the main benefits of oaks is the environmental value of the oak leaves left on the ground in the fall. The relationship of oaks and spring ephemerals like trillium and trout lily wildflowers has existed for millennia. But another benefit the trees offer is fairly new. Amynthas, sometimes called crazy or jumping worms for how quickly they can climb out of the soil, don’t like oak leaves. Oak leaves also fight drought, slow pollution from rapid runoff after heavy rainstorms, and are one of the best trees for carbon sequestration. ~ Tom Atwell