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We’ve featured a lot of oak trees as our Tree of the Month, but it’s high time we feature Quercus georgiana, the oak tree named after our fair Peach State! Despite the familiar moniker, you may not have heard of the Georgia oak before. These deciduous red oaks are pretty rare, and are actually on many conservationist watch lists, as their population borders on endangered. Did You Know?The largest known Georgia oak tree grows right here in our very own Clarke County! It sits at 65 feet tall. Pretty small for an oak tree, but pretty massive for a Georgia oak! Georgia oaks are also sometimes referred to as Stone Mountain oaks, as the first of the species was discovered near Stone Mountain, Georgia. These southeast natives occur naturally along the sandstone and granite outcroppings in the area, and can also be found in small pockets of South Carolina and Alabama. Despite this preference for dry, rocky ground, Georgia oaks can tolerate a wide variety of soil compositions, assuming their root systems remain well-drained. Regardless of their conditions, they do require full sun, or at least 6 hours of direct exposure every day, in order to thrive. Most oak trees are notoriously slow growers, and Georgia oaks are no different. However, unlike most oak species, Georgia oaks act more like shrubs in the wild. They stay lower to the ground, averaging around 25 feet high, with wide, compact crowns ranging from around 15 to 30 feet across. Of course, some Georgia oaks will follow a more stereotypical “tree” growth pattern, and reach heights upwards of 50 feet. Domestic specimens, such as in landscaping, are also often pruned and guided to grow this way. If you’re willing to wait, they make great shade trees in the summer! Georgia oak leaves follow the same 5-finger pattern of other oaks, though the lobes are less defined than other species. The bright green leaves are shiny and waxy on the surface, with hairless, pale-green undersides. In the fall, these leaves will change to rust-reds and warm browns, making them a colorful addition to Georgia’s autumn foliage displays. The bark of the Georgia oak can range from light gray to light brown in color, and will mature from smooth to scaly as the tree ages. New twigs and leaf buds appear reddish-brown. Georgia oaks are monoecious, which means both male and female reproductive organs are present on a single tree. However, the species is self-incompatible, which means that they require another of their species to cross-pollinate with in order to reproduce. A properly pollinated Georgia oak will grow small brownish-gray acorns that reach barely a half-inch long on average. These acorns are a treasured source of food for the surrounding ecosystem, but may be a nuisance in your backyard, so be sure to weigh the pros and cons before adding a Georgia oak to your landscaping! AuthorEmily Casuccio is sister and sister-in-law to Rebekah and Scott Rushing, and has over half a decade of experience in copywriting, copyediting, proofreading, and developmental storyboarding. She's worked with both published and undiscovered authors on both fiction and nonfiction, and takes pride in supporting local businesses. Her passion lies in the written word and helping authors of all capacities realize their dreams and achieve their fullest potential. To learn more about her, read samples of her work, or contact her, visit her online portfolio.
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Whether it’s the sugar maple in your neighborhood with the stunning yellow leaves, or the mottled mountain ranges with more colors than you can count, Georgia’s fall foliage is a sight to behold! If you’re interested in creating a seasonal spectacle in your own backyard, check out this list of the best trees to plant for decoration in Georgia. Maple TreesMaple trees are the poster children for fall color. Depending on the species, they can range from brilliant reds to deep golden yellows, and everything in between. Maples come in a wide variety, so you can pick what works best for your yard. Shumard OakShumard oaks are hardy and adaptable, making them a popular landscaping choice in neighborhoods, city streets, and parks alike. The fact that they show off dappled oranges and yellows in the fall is just a bonus! Sweetgum TreesThough the gumballs can be a nuisance, many find them a small price to pay for the beautiful reds, oranges, purples, and yellows the sweetgum tree turns in the fall. Dogwood TreeThe dogwood is known for its lovely white and pink flowers in the spring, but did you know these trees also offer some gorgeous color in the fall? In addition to bright red berries, dogwood leaves turn a deep reddish-purple as the weather grows colder. Ginko TreeWith their uniquely-shaped leaves, ginko trees are already a statement piece. But in the fall, those fan-like leaves turn a uniform light yellow, making them even more beautiful to look at. Sassafras TreeSassafras trees also have pretty unique leaves, shaped like little mittens. Any given sassafras tree may turn yellow, orange, red, or even purple in the fall, making for a fun colorful surprise. Black TupeloThe native black tupelo tree offers an especially spectacular fall display. You’ll find yellows, oranges, reds, purples, and more all on the same tree – often all on the same branch! River BirchRiver birches are beloved for their white and grey peeling bark, but are also adored for their golden yellow leaves in the fall. AuthorEmily Casuccio is sister and sister-in-law to Rebekah and Scott Rushing, and has over half a decade of experience in copywriting, copyediting, proofreading, and developmental storyboarding. She's worked with both published and undiscovered authors on both fiction and nonfiction, and takes pride in supporting local businesses. Her passion lies in the written word and helping authors of all capacities realize their dreams and achieve their fullest potential. To learn more about her, read samples of her work, or contact her, visit her online portfolio. It’s October, which means Halloween is right around the corner. And whether you’ve put up decorations or not, most houses still look the part – thanks to some large golden spiders and their larger golden webs. These creepy crawlies are Joro spiders, an invasive species that’s been spreading across Georgia (and the Southeast) for the last few years. The Joro InvasionUnlike most invasive species, which can be detrimental to the environments they invade, Joros are actually pretty harmless. They don’t prey on any crops, and don’t have any special preferences for their meals, so they aren’t likely to decimate any native insect populations. In fact, Joros have actually aided in reducing the number of brown stinkbugs. The main drawback of the Joro invasion right now is the sheer amount of them. Their population keeps growing exponentially season after season, but luckily, leading scientists studying them believe that their numbers will level out with time. Thankfully, Joro spiders don’t present any danger to us humans. While they look pretty scary, and can definitely be a nuisance when they build a web right outside your front door, they are unlikely to try and take a bite unless provoked. Even then, their mouths are so small, they can’t really do any damage. As with most creatures in nature, if you leave them alone, they’ll leave you alone. What do Joro spiders look like?As with many arachnids, the males of the species are diminutive and less noticeable. Though they can often be found along the same web as the female Joros, you likely won’t be able to spot the males at all. Their muted, orange-ish brown coloring helps them blend easily into their environment. The Joro spiders everyone’s talking about are the females. With their thick abdomen and long legs, female Joros are easily one of the more intimidating arachnids in our area. Their bodies are striped with a bright yellow and a muted greenish black, and their legs are shiny black with golden bands. The splash of red on the underside of their abdomens makes them even more intimidating, as red coloring is nature often means “Danger!” Aren’t they just banana spiders?Female Joro spiders are often confused with banana spiders thanks to their yellow coloring, and that moniker isn’t 100% incorrect. “Banana spider” is a term used to refer to at least five different arachnid variations of orb-weavers. The Joro spider is also an orb-weaver, and is very similar in appearance to the classic banana spiders. The easiest way to tell the difference between a Joro spider and a banana spider is the web. Banana spider webs look just like you expect a classic one to, with each strand nearly invisible from how thin it is. Banana spiders usually create a single thick zig-zag line bisecting the center of their web that earns them the nickname “writing spiders.” Joro webs, on the other hand, are made of thick golden strands that appear much more half-hazard than standard spider webs. This, along with their sheer massive size, make them fairly easy to spot, and therefore fairly easy to avoid. What can I do to get rid of them?Unfortunately, there isn’t a whole lot we can do right now to reduce their numbers. Right now, they’re almost like hydras; for every Joro you kill, two more will take its place. But they won’t be around forever. Most Joros will have died off by the end of November. Leading UGA entomologists encourage you to leave them be. While they may not be a joy to have around, they do help control the pest population, and can decrease the number of bugs you see in your home as the weather cools. In the meantime, their webs all over your porch certainly make for a spooky Halloween decoration! AuthorEmily Casuccio is sister and sister-in-law to Rebekah and Scott Rushing, and has over half a decade of experience in copywriting, copyediting, proofreading, and developmental storyboarding. She's worked with both published and undiscovered authors on both fiction and nonfiction, and takes pride in supporting local businesses. Her passion lies in the written word and helping authors of all capacities realize their dreams and achieve their fullest potential. To learn more about her, read samples of her work, or contact her, visit her online portfolio. |
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January 2023
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23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,
24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Colossians 3:23-24
24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Colossians 3:23-24