From acorn to oak tree? And don't feed the wild horses

When we first moved to Fish Springs 25 years ago, we looked for property that had trees already growing there so it wouldn't look so much like a desert. We found the perfect 5-acre lot which bumps right up to a Bureau of Land Management hill in our back yard. Another plus - there were 36 mature, native juniper trees already growing there. Over the years we've planted hundreds more trees, including a productive orchard.

My husband really enjoys gardening and he's experimented with various kinds of trees that reminded him of his childhood on a farm. He planted two black walnut trees at the end of our driveway. They died. Then he bought about a dozen special cold-tolerant eucalyptus trees and pampered them with straw mulch and plenty of water. They lasted a couple years before a really hard winter froze the roots of the small trees. He also planted a couple redwood trees with thoughts that some day they would be giants and you would be able to see them from old Windmill Road. They lasted two years.

One tree that we know cannot live in our cold environment, yet it has been thriving here for more than 20 years. Twice a year we get lots of full-size, delicious, juicy lemons. You guessed it - it's a Myers dwarf lemon tree and we keep it in our greenhouse during the winter. We planted it in a very large container and moved it out to the deck when there's no chance of freezing.

Well, we found some acorns under an old oak tree in a park in the Sierra foothills. I called my favorite horticulturist, Kathy Rosten, at Lowes. She always helps us with our plants and trees. Kathy said the acorns were probably from an "interior live oak" or a "California black oak" tree. She reminded me that they are extremely slow growing and not likely to survive being here in Fish Springs - "but it's worth a try."

The big problem is having viable seeds. Many acorns are infested with weevils that eat the inside of the acorn. So if you see a little hole in the acorn, you're too late. Toss it. You can also put your acorns in a bucket of water and if they float, they're hollow. Toss 'em. But we were lucky to find some good ones - no holes, no weevils. Our plan is to put them in a wet paper towel, then in a zip-lock bag and refrigerate them for two months. Then we'll plant the acorns in potting soil and we'll water them occasionally along with the other plants in our greenhouse and hope a little oak tree comes up in a month or so. Wouldn't that be exciting? We'll keep them nurtured in the greenhouse until they're strong and resistant to our Fish Springs weather. I wonder how long that will be? I'll keep you posted.

n Wild Horses in East Valley: Seven wild horses were eating breakfast in the Wildflower Ridge neighborhood last Sunday morning around 7 a.m. They were near Rabbitbrush on the south side of Fish Springs Road. And, they were eating from a big bale of hay. Someone forgot the rule against feeding the wild horses.

Last year two wild horses were hit by cars in the East Valley area and both died of their injuries. Feeding and watering the horses only encourages them to hang out in the neighborhoods instead of grazing in the hills. We feel very privileged to share the land with them as they are one of the last vestiges of America's old west. But please let them stay out in the hills where they are safe.

n Linda Monohan can be reached at 782-5802.