Oak Tree
(Quercus robur)
Other Names - Oak, Pedunculate Oak, English Oak, French Oak, European Oak, Truffle Oak.
Origins - Europe, Asia Minor, Caucasus, N. America.
Type - Perennial (deciduous).
Hardiness (see References, below) - Zones 4 - 8.
Bloom - Spring.
Fruit - Fall.
Height - Approx. 99 ft (30 m).
Cultivation - Full Sun, or partial shade. Average water needs, most soils. Low maintenance tree.
Propagation - By seeds.
Other - This stately looking tree, makes great landscaping landmark, wherever it grows. Oak wood is hard, attractive, and expensive. For centuries, it has made great material for fine flooring, furniture, battleships, maturing barrels flavoring wines, whisky, 
and other alcoholic beverages. Its by-product, -chips, is used during food smoking process, and of course, as a great mulching material in our gardens. Truffles love growing next to Oak trees.
Live, or otherwise; Oak represents lasting quality.
Oak tree grows slowly, and for a long time.
The oldest Oak tree in Europe 
is believed to be Kongeegen (The King Oak) on Sjælland Island of Denmark, and estimated to be over 1500 hundred years old.
Here, in the US, we, too, have a few examples of exceptional oak species. They include the California Oak, The Pechanga Great Oak Tree in Temecula, California (over 2000 years old, and possibly the oldest Oak tree, anywhere). Downeast, cherishes another example of Oak's longevity; -Southern, live (evergreen) variety, The Angel Oak (Quercus virginiana) in South Carolina, is estimated to be 1400-1500 hundred years old (see the bottom picture).
Did you know?
Oak's acorns, apart from being beautiful, and inspirational, are also useful.
They are true nuts (if a little bitter), and make important source of nutrition to hogs and other wildlife. They have also been consumed by people, either roasted, or ground into flour; -see HOW TO.
Oak Trees are well having, and preserving. If you have one, consider putting a lightning rod, to protect it from lightning.
...and for the weather predicting gardeners; please note, the more fallen acorns, the colder the Winter!
A few other varieties of Oak:
Quercus virgininana - (Live Oak) an evergreen,
Quercus rubra - (Red Oak) faster growing oak
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Feedback - contact.tcg.now@gmail.com
References - Find more about Hardiness Zones
Special Thanks
Special Thanks to Town & Country Gardens Contributors: blogger, bulabean, Channel Light Vessel Automatic, dive-angel (Karin), Eric M. Foster, faye_rae, flickr, Jasmine&Roses, Rita Crane Photography. Rita Crane, daughter of LIFE magazine photographer Ralph Crane. Her work can be seen on Flickr at Rita Crane Photography or on her website., Schooksonruss, TMR Davies, Wikipedia, W.D. Williams
