In spring and summer, the oaks, alders, maples, ashes, and cottonwoods have bright green leaves. In autumn, the leaves turn yellow and other brilliant colors. In winter, the same trees appear dead or dying as they drop their leaves until the next spring. Look on the ground and you might notice that evergreens actually shed leaves too. From Little Acorns Oak trees are easily identified by their distinctive silhouettes, leaves, and seeds called acorns.
Some animals find oak leaves and acorns irresistible.
Oak has been used all over the world to make fine furniture, cabinets, floors, sailing ships, even wine barrels. Look carefully and you may see that oak branches and leaves often have golf ball-sized galls attached to them. These odd formations are the homes of small harmless, wasp larvae. A great deal remains to be learned about the Oregon white oak. This tree was once common throughout the Willamette Valley.