Nebraska NUTS

[M. R. Byrd]

I may soon have a road trip across Nebraska, from Ogallala to Nebraska City. I would certainly be interested in getting some nuts along the way. If anyone knows of any for sale, message me. I would especially like to find some Relict Oak acorns.

Maynard

 

[Fishman]

I don't know where you can get any for sale, but if you are looking to pick up some yourself, go to https://www.inaturalist.org/ and type in the species you are looking for and see if there are any trees located along your route. I use it all the time when travelling to locate potentially interesting trees.

 

[M. R. Byrd]

I don't know where you can get any for sale, but if you are looking to pick up some yourself, go to https://www.inaturalist.org/ and type in the species you are looking for and see if there are any trees located along your route. I use it all the time when travelling to locate potentially interesting trees.

Thanks for that link, I will check it out.

 

[M. R. Byrd]

I mentioned the "Relict" bur oak of Nebraska. This is an interesting story and I have been trying to get some acorns from there, especially to try at my semi-arid SW Kansas farm. The deep canyon near McCook has a stand of oak that had been in that canyon for hundreds of years, with no other oaks near by. Theory has it that the deep canyon protected the grove from prairie fires and other elements. There is estimated 300-400 oaks in that canyon with hybridization.

Here is a picture of the variation of leaves:

 

[M. R. Byrd]

here is an interesting link

Burr Oak Canyon Symposium 2019

On October 17, 2019, 80 participants gathered in McCook, Nebraska for a two-day conference and field trip, titled “Growing Better Trees Across the Great Plains”.

www.internationaloaksociety.org

 

[Kurt]

Bumping this back up. Just collected bur oak acorns out of Frontier Park in Hays, KS. Trying to find some oaks that will surive in the drought conditiions of this area and hoping since these trees have done it, I can work from their acorns. Side note, dozens and dozens of squirrels loving life there. My deer herd wouldn't know what to do with something besides corn, milo and wheat for a snack. Turkeys may appreciate it too. Just a long process but maybe the kids can see it if I start it.

Any other bur oak updates or insights welcomed.

 

[KSQ2]

Bumping this back up. Just collected bur oak acorns out of Frontier Park in Hays, KS. Trying to find some oaks that will surive in the drought conditiions of this area and hoping since these trees have done it, I can work from their acorns. Side note, dozens and dozens of squirrels loving life there. My deer herd wouldn't know what to do with something besides corn, milo and wheat for a snack. Turkeys may appreciate it too. Just a long process but maybe the kids can see it if I start it.

Any other bur oak updates or insights welcomed.

Some of the burr oaks get started quicker than others it seems. Some produce acorns within 10 years; I'm guessing that is with good rain though, and we don't get that here in Kansas anymore unfortunately.

 

[M. R. Byrd]

Bumping this back up. Just collected bur oak acorns out of Frontier Park in Hays, KS. Trying to find some oaks that will surive in the drought conditiions of this area and hoping since these trees have done it, I can work from their acorns. Side note, dozens and dozens of squirrels loving life there. My deer herd wouldn't know what to do with something besides corn, milo and wheat for a snack. Turkeys may appreciate it too. Just a long process but maybe the kids can see it if I start it.

Any other bur oak updates or insights welcomed.

Bare root bur oak are available in the spring from Kansas Forestry in bundles of 25. Be sure to follow their recommendations for sweating the seedlings to get them to break bud. Bur oak is a good and recommended tree in western Kansas. The few I have are 20+ years old and producing, although not heavily. The annual rainfall here at the Ponderosa is 17.50" so that is a limiting factor unless I can water them.

 

[Kurt]

My neighbor has had luck going with acorns as they seem to withstand the dryness better than the seedlings. I have planted many seedlings and I think I may have 2 sawtooth left alive. I don't get to water most of the summer and the little ones just perish the last 3 years. But hope springs anew and acorns are in the ground. If any popup I'll cage them and see if I can get them to make it.

MR, I think I am around that same amount of moisture though I am in a river bottom. Maybe mine can hit a shallow water table if they get big enough.