Maria Lisa Polegatto May 2024
Follow Up to The Interconnectedness of Acorns, Ecosystems and Humanity
 Acorn sprouting  Stick like sprout  :Leaves starting to open  Leaves opened and top sprouting up.  Leaves growing bigger and growing taller. | Spring is sprung! I love seeing the awakening of spring with the budding of the trees, flowers and plants. Seeing caterpillars and insects out and moving about is exciting and a sign life is waking up from the long winter slumber. While I was cleaning up the deck for spring, I came across a slumbering caterpillar so I moved him to the straw to stay warm and cozy until more seasonal temperatures are here. While planting season is near, it's still too cold outside to plant budding plants outside unless they are hardened and grown from outside to start. I grew my acorns inside so they are not hardened off yet. If you planted outside, mark the spot so you can watch for the tiny sprout shooting up. See the growth stages of the acorn to the left of this article. The acorn will not likely sprout until the ground is warmer. The sun is warm but the wind is still so cold yet. I don't blame the acorn for staying inside and warmly snuggled still. I really enjoyed doing this acorn project and sharing the future of these tiny oak acorns to grow into large oak trees. A few people are letting me know how their trees is growing which is great to have the connection to know the acorns are producing into future oxygen producing trees, connecting with the ocean ecosystem, providing shade in future, and so much more as noted in my acorn project research. I still have a few acorns at home that I am growing. Some have yet to sprout up, even inside. I have not given up on them though. The few that are growing up are all at different stages (see pictures are left). From a small stick like stem popping up to forming leaf buds to opening the leaves to take in more photosynthesis with the sunlight, growing taller and stronger stem and leaves. These tiny treasurers are giving oxygen in my home while taking in our carbon dioxide, cleaning our air and providing their yet tiny ecological shield. I can't wait to move them outside to grow in the fresh warm air soaking in the sunlight to grow stronger. The roots are already poking out of the bottom of the 5" pots I started them in. They will go right into larger containers outside in the biodegradable pots to have more room and to not disturb their current growth and snug home. Remember to water your acorn. This tree, Bur Oak, is a flood mitigater so while you don't want to flood the acorn with water, it will accept water even as an acorn and will suck up water in it's environment as it grows. I have made connections with people through the project that has lead to more forest regeneration projects and discussions. That is what being sustainable is about - connecting, innovation, creativity, learning, and growing (pun intended) for better futures for all. Not just for ourselves but for future generations. I wish all of the acorns a big, bright and healthy future to provide joy, wellness, forest bathing, ecological shields, flooding mitigation, forest protection, ecosystem connectors, connectedness to other species in their new homes and so many more benefits. Hopefully no one had a squirrel scurry off their their acorn. But that too is a feeding of animals that is also important. Take care, God bless you and your acorn! Lisa |
 |  Bur Oak Tree |  |
#acorns #ecosystems #humanity #academictwitter #trees #oaktrees #interconnectedness #education #learning #growing #gardening
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