[Carl in Tampa]

Originally Posted by Polar Bear

I know oak trees are often planted too close to homes, driveways, etc. But I'll never understand the hatred for properly planted one's. I've had...and loved...oak trees in every home I've owned. My favorite tree.

As with many things in life, opinions vary greatly.

Many dislike oaks because they are allergic to oak pollen. And, in the pollen season, the oak trees shed prolific amounts of pollen, making people miserable.

The "golden dust" of oak pollen can mask the true color of cars on which they settle. They can make sidewalks and driveways look like the Wizard of Oz's "yellow brick road."

THAT is why many people hate oak trees.

[Polar Bear]

Originally Posted by Carl in Tampa

Many dislike oaks because they are allergic to oak pollen. And, in the pollen season, the oak trees shed prolific amounts of pollen, making people miserable.

The "golden dust" of oak pollen can mask the true color of cars on which they settle. They can make sidewalks and driveways look like the Wizard of Oz's "yellow brick road."

THAT is why many people hate oak trees.

Fortunately for me, I've never seen THAT as anything but a minor annoyance.

[Carl in Tampa]

Originally Posted by Polar Bear

Fortunately for me, I've never seen THAT as anything but a minor annoyance.

Well, good for you.

However, you said, "I'll never understand the hatred for properly planted one's."

And, I explained the reason.

To you it is a minor annoyance; others find it quite debilitating, often requiring the intervention of a physician in order to cope with it.

[Polar Bear]

Originally Posted by Carl in Tampa

Well, good for you.

However, you said, "I'll never understand the hatred for properly planted one's."

And, I explained the reason.

To you it is a minor annoyance; others find it quite debilitating, often requiring the intervention of a physician in order to cope with it.

I am (and was) aware of the allergy/pollen issues. And I sympathize. I was addressing folks who don't like oaks and their given reasons have nothing to do with allergies/pollen.

Your 'THAT...' remark just seemed a little snooty and condescending. So I responded in kind.

[Carl in Tampa]

Originally Posted by Polar Bear

I am (and was) aware of the allergy/pollen issues. And I sympathize. I was addressing folks who don't like oaks and their given reasons have nothing to do with allergies/pollen.

Your 'THAT...' remark just seemed a little snooty and condescending. So I responded in kind.

The THAT was just to emphasize the point of the sentence. No condescending intended. Let's not get off to a bad start.

I take words quite literally. When you said you would "never understand," there was no exclusion for people with allergies.

“I always prefer to believe the best of everybody; it saves so much trouble”
― Rudyard Kipling

[Polar Bear]

Originally Posted by Carl in Tampa

The THAT was just to emphasize the point of the sentence. No condescending intended. Let's not get off to a bad start.

I take words quite literally. When you said you would "never understand," there was no exclusion for people with allergies...

Fair enough. I don't want to get off to a bad start either.

And I will admit I will often play with words a bit, not always taking them...or intending them to be taken...100% literally.

[CFrance]

Wow. I didn't know that yellow stuff was all oak pollen. I thought it was coming from everywhere. Interesting tidbit to learn. I'm very glad I don't have allergies and feel for those that do. Our black cars have frequently turned yellow.

[Polar Bear]

Originally Posted by CFrance

Wow. I didn't know that yellow stuff was all oak pollen. I thought it was coming from everywhere. Interesting tidbit to learn. I'm very glad I don't have allergies and feel for those that do. Our black cars have frequently turned yellow.

It's not all from oak trees. All flowering plants and trees produce pollen. Oak trees are just one of the major culprits.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by Polar Bear

It's not all from oak trees. All flowering plants and trees produce pollen. Oak trees are just one of the major culprits.

Not to get too far off topic, but is all pollen yellow? Up north we used to get white stuff flying all over the place in the spring. It looked like whispy cottony snowflakes.

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by Rapscallion St Croix

Perhaps the Morses will use the oak to smoke some awesome Kobe brisket or perhaps it will become barrels for aging fine Double Malt Whiskey that only the likes of the Morses and Chatbrat can afford.

You are a funny guy.

Originally Posted by buzzy

Can't the trees be relocated to the shore of Lake Miona, where the residents will appreciate the view?

[NotGolfer]

Originally Posted by CFrance

Not to get too far off topic, but is all pollen yellow? Up north we used to get white stuff flying all over the place in the spring. It looked like whispy cottony snowflakes.

THAT would have been from Cottonwood trees and also VERY annoying. Those along with the "helicopter" seeds (can't recall the name of the tree) and pollen too. I have pollen allergies, which as I'm aging seems to bring on some asthma type issues. As for cutting trees....I guess none of us would have houses or would be living in communities if trees hadn't been cut down. I think it was stated that new trees would be planted in place of these so I don't see an issue with it...other than the ones to come down are pretty old.

[Carl in Tampa]

Originally Posted by CFrance

Not to get too far off topic, but is all pollen yellow? Up north we used to get white stuff flying all over the place in the spring. It looked like whispy cottony snowflakes.

A white pollen that once brought me to the Urgent Care doctor in central Texas is from a tree called the Texas Mountain Cedar tree (although it is actually a laurel.) Twenty percent of Texans are affected by this pollen.

After the pollen blooms, gusts of wind blow this pollen from the tree in great clouds.

[manaboutown]

Originally Posted by Carl in Tampa

A white pollen that once brought me to the Urgent Care doctor in central Texas is from a tree called the Texas Mountain Cedar tree (although it is actually a laurel.) Twenty percent of Texans are affected by this pollen.

After the pollen blooms, gusts of wind blow this pollen from the tree in great clouds.

Texans I know call it "Cedar Fever". I experienced it in Austin. In New Mexico windblown indigenous Juniper pollen, which is yellow, coats everything in the spring. Also the non indigenous female Cottonwood trees there which grow mostly along riverbanks produce white cottony blizzards about this time of year. Siberian Elm trees planted all over the state by then Governor Clyde Tingley in the 1930's in the Spring produce sail like seeds which seem to enter every possible crevice and produce fast growing saplings in seemingly no time at all. (I once heard he thought he was getting Chinese Elm trees. He was not an educated man.) I guess every region contains nuisance vegetation of some sort.

Didn't Tumbleweeds (Russian Thistle) get into the USA in a shipment of wheat from Russia or by Russian immigrants back in 1873?

[CFrance]

Someone made a good point about new trees. The first house we built (in '73), had a scraped bare lot. We put in two trees and moved four years later. In 2008 my DIL and I went back there to see where her husband/our son grew up. Our two spindly young trees were gone, but several huge trees were in their place. It is beautiful.

Not every live oak is worth saving. Many that are have some sort of protection.

[Carl in Tampa]

Originally Posted by manaboutown

Texans I know call it "Cedar Fever". I experienced it in Austin. In New Mexico windblown indigenous Juniper pollen, which is yellow, coats everything in the spring. Also the non indigenous female Cottonwood trees there which grow mostly along riverbanks produce white cottony blizzards about this time of year. Siberian Elm trees planted all over the state by then Governor Clyde Tingley in the 1930's in the Spring produce sail like seeds which seem to enter every possible crevice and produce fast growing saplings in seemingly no time at all. (I once heard he thought he was getting Chinese Elm trees. He was not an educated man.) I guess every region contains nuisance vegetation of some sort.

Didn't Tumbleweeds (Russian Thistle) get into the USA in a shipment of wheat from Russia or by Russian immigrants back in 1873?

Austin is the Center of the Mountain Cedar (Juniper) pollen area which extends down toward San Antonio and up toward Dallas. I was in New Braunfels when it struck me down.

When I lived in San Antonio, I lived near a very large city park (San Pedro Park) which contained a lot of Cottonwood trees. I was never troubled by the white clouds of floating seeds that they expelled. I actually thought it was pretty.