Scarlet Oak-Quercus coccinea

Ponder This:

Oak leaves are usually the last to fall each year – sometimes hanging on well into the middle of winter. They don’t shred easily and are many times the last to break down in a mulch pile. When there are a number of oak trees, as there are in this corner of the property, the leaves in the wind become a whirling, swirling dance that makes raking and piling all but impossible. But with a calm day and a settled breeze, the leaves are raked into great piles for pick up and disposal.

Except for one event that happens first.

Just inside the church building, facing this little corner, is the Pathways Preschool and Northview Mother's Day Out program. As the kids return in the fall they look out the windows and impatiently wait for that calm day when the piles of leaves are built just for them. On that day it is a celebration as these children of God jump, dive, and play in the eruption of leaves.

Take a moment to join them. Walk through these trees and experience the shade mixing with the sunlight; think about letting go of today’s troubles; consider the unrestrained joy that so delights parents and grandparents; dance in the leaves with laughter and simply enjoy being a child of God.

Learn More:

Scarlet Oak-Quercus coccinea, a medium to large tree that can reach 70 to 80 feet in height with a single trunk 2 to 3 feet in diameter. The acorns are a favorite food of grouse, wild turkey, and various other large birds as well as mammals such as deer, squirrels, and chipmunks. Scarlet Oak has a moderately fast growth rate and strong, storm-resistant limbs, making it a good choice for large yards, parks, and play areas. However, it is its stunning fall beauty that has made it a favorite landscape tree and one of the features for its choice as the official tree of the District of Columbia.