Time for a Wee Break

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Leaves do miraculous things. ~Hal Borland, American writer, journalist, and naturalist

This is the Red Oak that my son Domer helped me plant last year:

Red Oak, September 2024

I did the best I could with its care — watering it, talking to it, and trying to keep the bugs off it.

One of my neighbors (a Master Gardener, no less) advised me to buy that green bag zipped around its trunk so I wouldn’t have to guess how much water to give it. She said a slow, steady drip would provide a proper foundation.

Still, the nasty Japanese Beetles chomped on it with glee. Notice the ragged limbs on its right side:

Red Oak, November 2024

Notice also how miniscule it looks, particularly in the number of leaves and that skinny trunk.

Red Oak is supposed to be a fast-grower, but I started to fear I’d never have shade.

What a difference a year makes:

Red Oak, November 2025

I hose-watered it this year — deeply and on a regular basis throughout the growing season. I sprayed it with something called Neem Oil and banished the bugs. And my oak grew taller and fuller, with a much bigger trunk and leaves that were almost as big as my hands!

And notice that delightful red-orange color!

I guess I did something right after all. Or perhaps, the tree is thriving in spite of me.

Anyway, Happy Fall, y’all! And Happy Thanksgiving feasting! I’m taking a bit of time off but will catch up with you in December!

24 thoughts on “Time for a Wee Break”

    • Thank you, Darlene! It was a pleasant surprise to see it thrive this year — that gives me hope it’s got a good foundation and will continue to grow in coming years.

  2. What a beautiful shade of rusty red on those leaves! I’m so glad you figured out how to make your new red oak thrive. It won’t be long before it gives you lots of shade in return. Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving, Debbie!

    • Barbara, I was surprised to learn that the same tree can show off its Fall color in different shades, depending on weather conditions. I’d love for this oak to turn scarlet, but as you said, that rusty red is eye-catching. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

  3. That tree’s a beauty! I’m glad you stopping following the ‘master’ gardener’s advice. Slow and steady often is good advice for plants, but for a new tree, deep root watering is the ticket. You knew what to do — just like any good parent! Happy time off, and Happy Thanksgiving!

    • HaHa, I can’t really “fault” the master gardener, who probably was just parroting what she’d learned. Still, sometimes, you’ve got to go with your gut, and the deep root watering seemed to work better. Or maybe it’s just that this tree is now old enough to “look” and “act” like a tree! Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving, Linda!

  4. Red oak is a great choice, a very sturdy tree and it can tolerate a lot of munching. Matter of fact, it is a host plant to over 300 species and still takes it all in stride. Yours looks great!
    Have a fun Thanksgiving! 🦃

    • Thanks, Eliza, for confirming my research. I needed a sturdy tree that wouldn’t be fazed by living in Central Illinois — with its hot, dry summers and cold, often wet winters. We’d lost two maples to storms, so the yard was looking pretty bare. Perhaps this oak will remedy that … in time. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

  5. “What a difference a year makes:….”

    You are so right about that Debbie. It looks like a completely different tree in that one year. Your efforts paid off because it look so much more lush and HAPPY.

    Yes, I know of Neem Oil because I’ve used it on my skin. Not only is it an outstanding moisturizer, but it has so many other great benefits.

    Wishing you, Domer, and The Monk a Happy Thanksgiving Day! Enjoy your break. And thank you so much for being a longstanding and loyal blogging friend throughout these many years. I’m grateful for you!

    X

    • Ron, I just knew you’d know all about Neem Oil!! I imagine the version you apply to your skin is a tad different from the stuff we use for keeping bugs off trees. Still, I like that it’s natural and not a pesticide.

      I’m told oaks are among the last trees to drop their leaves. That’s kind of nice because so many of the other trees are already looking like “sticks.”

      Happy Thanksgiving to you, my friend. And thank you for being one of my long-time blogging buddies. I miss your posts, but maybe one day you’ll decide to return??! XX

  6. I’ve noticed with the trees we’ve planted (and over 30 years that has been a LOT of trees!) that nothing seems to happen for the first 2 years and in year three suddenly it starts to look better and grow faster and suddenly years have gone by and there is a big ole tree where once there was a little baby that we worried over. Your oak looks like it will be beautiful for years to come! Have a great Thanksgiving!

    • Thank you for those reassuring words, Dawn. This way, I can look forward to next year, when my oak will be a three-year-old and might actually provide a spot of shade. And won’t it be grand when it gets big enough for birds to nest in its branches! Happy Thanksgiving to all of you (and give Penny a hug from me!)

    • Thanks so much, John. It does look happy, doesn’t it? I’m impatient for it to grow big enough to provide some shade, but you can’t hurry Mother Nature. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours — give the girls a hug for me!

    • Thanks, Kelly. It’s been a while since I’ve had to “baby” a tree, and we forget just how long it takes to grow a tree. I guess I wouldn’t trust it if it grew too fast though! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

  10. Nice! Who chose the red oak? They are very pretty trees.

    Happy Thanksgiving! Yorkie and I will be watching the National Dog Show and Macy’s parade which is our tradition. I cheated and bought four slices of smoked turkey breast from my favorite BBQ place. I’ll make stove top stuffing with added veggies for me. And I already dipped into the grocery store bought pumpkin cream cake. Yorkie will enjoy a few turkey bites. Enjoy your holiday time!

    • We watch the dog show and the parade on Thanksgiving, too! It’s nice having traditions that we enjoy from year to year.

      I’d thought we’d get another maple for the yard (my late mom didn’t particularly like oaks), but this one seemed to speak to me! It was just a stick when we brought it home, but as you can see, it’s becoming a tree — and I’ll know it’s here to stay when I see birds in its branches … singing!!

      • It’s like the Charlie Brown Christmas Tree! I loved 3 Maple trees in my neighbor’s yard behind me as I did not get any wind blown into my yard to rake! Gorgeous. I have a live oak and a Texas oak in front yard and no trees in backyard. My neighbors have tons of invasive species trees. I love the red oak trees. Although I don’t have any there’s only one down on our street. It didn’t do any color this year. I suppose because of the drought and we are not allowed to water lawns, trees or bushes. It’s a brown summer and fall. Our City is working diligently to solve our water problem. They say we have one more year before our resources are completely dried. It is scary actually. My oak tree are still green!

        Enjoy!!

    • Thanks, FF. Yes, providing a storm doesn’t take it out the way spring storms did the last two maples, it should be just fine. Oaks are supposed to be sturdy, so we will see. And one day, perhaps it will grow acorns, too! Happy Thanksgiving to you!

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