Red Oaks and Dead Oaks

The majority of the trees in Oakwood are Bur Oaks, but there are a few Red Oaks and Pin Oaks. The Bur Oaks don't color, the leaves just turn various hues of brown and fall off. And bury us. The Red Oaks can be quite beautiful, not the screaming oranges of maples, but softer colors. This one is on our north lot line. It too close to the street and eventually they'll cut it down I suppose. I'll enjoy while I can.

The Bartleson's up the street have a large dead Bur oak in their yard. It probably died from Oak Wilt. Wilt can take out a Red Oak in one year. The Bur Oaks are tougher. This one fought it off for ten years before it finally succumbed. Don't let the green the the picture below throw you. They are from the tree behind it. I know they will cut it down, but I can't help notice the evidence of the Pileated Woodpeckers, a great bird. At least they don't hammer and chisel away at the cedar shingles on my house the way the Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers do.