Quote:
Originally Posted by SteveA
In the 25 years we've been here in NH we have noticed that there are wide swings in acorn production on our property. It seems that cycle is normal.
This article is several years old.
http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/gree...ing_hea_1.html
Last year was a bumper crop, we had what seemed like millions of them. I don't think we'll really know about this year until fall. |
Plant biologists call high-yield years like 2009 a mast year - mast being a synonym for the acorns, nuts, maple helicopters etc. that trees issue forth.
I wish I could recall the source to provide attribution, but I seem to remember hearing that oaks, ashes, beech, etc. periodically have these huge profusions as a means of overwhelming nut eating critters, making more acorns than they can all possibly gather in a single season, ensuring that an ample seed stock will usher in the next generation of seedlings.