In the early summer, when the constant battle against weeds had us nearly to the point of insanity, we decided to escape for a couple of days southwards over the Pyrenees via the Somport Pass...
Posted Mon, 2019-10-07 23:50 in Shaun Haddock's blog
Everyone who knew Lloyd will be as shocked and saddened as I was to learn of his recent death after a short illness.
Posted Sat, 2019-08-24 11:29 in Shaun Haddock's blog
It may surprise you to learn that we are not the first Oak Society! Another Oak Society used to meet at the Crown and Anchor pub on the Strand in London.
Posted Sat, 2018-12-15 21:55 in Shaun Haddock's blog
Abundant rain in southwest France in the early part of this year has fostered a bumper seed crop at Arboretum de la Bergerette, some (such as Quercus emoryi) already ripe: thus my thoughts turn...
Posted Thu, 2018-08-16 15:31 in Shaun Haddock's blog
Bees are thieves! It’s official! After my recent note pointing out that bees were seemingly harvesting pollen from a Quercus suber without any commensurate benefit to the tree, serendipitously...
Posted Fri, 2018-04-20 20:33 in Shaun Haddock's blog
An oak which breaks the rules... Do oaks have rules? Well, I think so: the rule of survival of the fittest implies that all unnecessary branch structure is unaffordably costly in resources – the...
Posted Fri, 2018-02-16 19:46 in Shaun Haddock's blog
It was a mast year in 2017 here in southwest France, spreading acorns so thickly under some trees they formed a solid carpet. So Quercus pubescens is evidently not in danger for now, but what of...
Posted Fri, 2018-02-16 18:28 in Shaun Haddock's blog
Many readers will have seen the reference on the IOS website to the publication online of the 8th edition of W.J. Bean’s Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles under the auspices of the...
Posted Fri, 2018-02-16 17:06 in Shaun Haddock's blog
Across the River Tay from Dunkeld, within easy walking distance, are two oaks with connections to the arts.
Posted Wed, 2016-06-08 16:13 in Shaun Haddock's blog
Quercus baloot is a drought-tolerant oak found in the drier valleys not only in Afghanistan, but also in the north of what is now Pakistan and into Kashmir; by and large it evaded introduction...
Posted Sat, 2016-04-02 19:55 in Shaun Haddock's blog
Six years after Hurricane Klaus, disaster strikes again.
Posted Mon, 2015-09-07 20:54 in Shaun Haddock's blog
A visit to the world's largest oak vat.
Posted Wed, 2015-02-25 19:35 in Shaun Haddock's blog
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Editor's Picks
The story behind acorn snacks enjoyed on IOS Tours last year
Editorial Staff
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Jun 27, 2025
Four days exploring oaks on the east coast of North Island
Website Editor
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Jun 21, 2025
Many trees have been lost due to an intense storm on May 15
Guy Sternberg
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May 26, 2025
Plant Focus
A rare species from the Zagros forests in Iran
In the early summer, when the constant battle against weeds had us nearly to the point of insanity, we decided to escape for a couple of days southwards over the Pyrenees via the Somport Pass...
Posted Mon, 2019-10-07 23:50 in Shaun Haddock's blog
Everyone who knew Lloyd will be as shocked and saddened as I was to learn of his recent death after a short illness.
Posted Sat, 2019-08-24 11:29 in Shaun Haddock's blog
It may surprise you to learn that we are not the first Oak Society! Another Oak Society used to meet at the Crown and Anchor pub on the Strand in London.
Posted Sat, 2018-12-15 21:55 in Shaun Haddock's blog
Abundant rain in southwest France in the early part of this year has fostered a bumper seed crop at Arboretum de la Bergerette, some (such as Quercus emoryi) already ripe: thus my thoughts turn...
Posted Thu, 2018-08-16 15:31 in Shaun Haddock's blog
Bees are thieves! It’s official! After my recent note pointing out that bees were seemingly harvesting pollen from a Quercus suber without any commensurate benefit to the tree, serendipitously...
Posted Fri, 2018-04-20 20:33 in Shaun Haddock's blog
An oak which breaks the rules... Do oaks have rules? Well, I think so: the rule of survival of the fittest implies that all unnecessary branch structure is unaffordably costly in resources – the...
Posted Fri, 2018-02-16 19:46 in Shaun Haddock's blog
It was a mast year in 2017 here in southwest France, spreading acorns so thickly under some trees they formed a solid carpet. So Quercus pubescens is evidently not in danger for now, but what of...
Posted Fri, 2018-02-16 18:28 in Shaun Haddock's blog
Many readers will have seen the reference on the IOS website to the publication online of the 8th edition of W.J. Bean’s Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles under the auspices of the...
Posted Fri, 2018-02-16 17:06 in Shaun Haddock's blog
Across the River Tay from Dunkeld, within easy walking distance, are two oaks with connections to the arts.
Posted Wed, 2016-06-08 16:13 in Shaun Haddock's blog
Quercus baloot is a drought-tolerant oak found in the drier valleys not only in Afghanistan, but also in the north of what is now Pakistan and into Kashmir; by and large it evaded introduction...
Posted Sat, 2016-04-02 19:55 in Shaun Haddock's blog
Six years after Hurricane Klaus, disaster strikes again.
Posted Mon, 2015-09-07 20:54 in Shaun Haddock's blog
A visit to the world's largest oak vat.
Posted Wed, 2015-02-25 19:35 in Shaun Haddock's blog