A healthy oak tree will live 500 years without being a threat to any building beneath or close to it if it’s not hit by lightning. It will still stand even if that bilding got blown over and shredded.Yes, it’s necessary to care for a tree close to your home. I had to have mine get trimmed professionally the other month to keep it from growing uneven and it cost me a months salary. But it keeps my garden cool during the summer and our hammocks swinging. And as it’s a 50 year old walnut it provides me with more nuts than my family can consume during a year for the next 100 to 150 years at least.
Looking at the picture of J&A young made me wonder, they only had Gene. With other strips (Chickweed Lane and For Better or worse) having the main female pregnant, maybe we need an “accident” here.
I am 64 and the “old guy across the street’. But…no one dares say anything. In winter I use the snow blower to clear driveways after a storm and they don’t have one. I never charge anything for doing it. Keeps me busy. My friend next door is 6’6” tall, 300 lbs and has never cleared his driveway, even once. The “old guy” does it, not because he has to, but because he enjoys the exercise.
Here’s a true story: The old man that lived down the street from me sold his house to a young couple from away — the young couple cut down all the tall “old” trees he planted years and years ago as a hedge along the front of his lawn — then they plant brand new “young” trees in their place to make a “new” hedge — insanity at its best.
This hardwood grows naturally over ancient battlegrounds where much blood has soaked the soil. Living for many thousands of years, these trees can grow very broad and tall, subsisting, if necessary, only on blood in the soil. Their roots are extremely proliferus and can stretch for nearly a mile in search of more blood. When cut, the dark crimson sap of the blood oak pours out of the “wound” and hardens over it, like blood clotting.
Blood oaks drop seeds called bloodcorns. A rare few of these acorn-like nuts contain a toxin that can cause animals as large as horses to stumble and react slowly. Often, the grazing animal falls and what happens next lends credence to the theory that these trees are in fact intelligent.
The leaves of the blood oak are split into a dual wing shape with the stem in the middle. When the leaves fall, they fall quickly and directly. The stems break off in a hollow point. When an animal falls to a toxic bloodcorn, regardless of season or wind conditions, it is immediately pierced by any number of these falling leaves. The sap stored in the vein between the two “wings” in the leaf is injected into the animal. The toxin in the leaves combined with the effects of the bloodcorn paralyzes the target instantly while thinning its blood. Most pierced animals bleed out quickly around the needle-like points of the leaves, while the odor of their dying blood attracts more animals to feed under the blood oak.
That’s how we view trees. They’re great to look at. Until, we realize what kind of damage they can do to our property and other things. But what we need to keep in mind. We still need them.
mddshubby2005 over 4 years ago
You’re too young to cosplay as Mr. Wilson, Arlo.
SpacedInvader Premium Member over 4 years ago
When we moved into our house 33 years ago there was an old guy across the street. Now I’m the old guy across the street.
Robin Harwood over 4 years ago
Three sentence starters for you, Arlo:When I was a lad …I remember when …Young People Today …
I find them all very useful. The last one is my favourite.
alasko over 4 years ago
Oak is real hard wood. Sturdy. Not prone to fall down when you least expect it. Not a softwood, that’s for sure.
unfair.de over 4 years ago
A healthy oak tree will live 500 years without being a threat to any building beneath or close to it if it’s not hit by lightning. It will still stand even if that bilding got blown over and shredded.Yes, it’s necessary to care for a tree close to your home. I had to have mine get trimmed professionally the other month to keep it from growing uneven and it cost me a months salary. But it keeps my garden cool during the summer and our hammocks swinging. And as it’s a 50 year old walnut it provides me with more nuts than my family can consume during a year for the next 100 to 150 years at least.
nosirrom over 4 years ago
The next thing coming out of my mouth would be “You kids get off my weeds”
Snolep over 4 years ago
Okay, Boomer.
Sportymonk over 4 years ago
Looking at the picture of J&A young made me wonder, they only had Gene. With other strips (Chickweed Lane and For Better or worse) having the main female pregnant, maybe we need an “accident” here.
Tyge Premium Member over 4 years ago
Jimmy J’s been dealing with ageing issues in the strip lately. Must be on his mind.
MeGoNow Premium Member over 4 years ago
Now appearing in the part of Old Man Day is Arlo the old Guy.
Mopman over 4 years ago
He does cosplay and dresses up as an old grumpy guy?
rlaker22j over 4 years ago
I guess our get up and go got up and went
DaveQuinn over 4 years ago
I am 64 and the “old guy across the street’. But…no one dares say anything. In winter I use the snow blower to clear driveways after a storm and they don’t have one. I never charge anything for doing it. Keeps me busy. My friend next door is 6’6” tall, 300 lbs and has never cleared his driveway, even once. The “old guy” does it, not because he has to, but because he enjoys the exercise.
phil over 4 years ago
Here’s a true story: The old man that lived down the street from me sold his house to a young couple from away — the young couple cut down all the tall “old” trees he planted years and years ago as a hedge along the front of his lawn — then they plant brand new “young” trees in their place to make a “new” hedge — insanity at its best.
DCBakerEsq over 4 years ago
Friggin’ kids
DDrazen over 4 years ago
Arlo looks SO MUCH like my late FIL in that last panel.
yipp_eeee over 4 years ago
Amazing how much younger Arlo looks without the cowlick.
David Huie Green LosersBlameOthers&It'sYOURfault over 4 years ago
Odds are fair to middling it will fall elsewhere or not at all.
Night-Gaunt49[Bozo is Boffo] over 4 years ago
“BLOOD OAK”
http://impabulum.com/Skard/Gallery/bloodoaks.html
This hardwood grows naturally over ancient battlegrounds where much blood has soaked the soil. Living for many thousands of years, these trees can grow very broad and tall, subsisting, if necessary, only on blood in the soil. Their roots are extremely proliferus and can stretch for nearly a mile in search of more blood. When cut, the dark crimson sap of the blood oak pours out of the “wound” and hardens over it, like blood clotting.
Blood oaks drop seeds called bloodcorns. A rare few of these acorn-like nuts contain a toxin that can cause animals as large as horses to stumble and react slowly. Often, the grazing animal falls and what happens next lends credence to the theory that these trees are in fact intelligent.
The leaves of the blood oak are split into a dual wing shape with the stem in the middle. When the leaves fall, they fall quickly and directly. The stems break off in a hollow point. When an animal falls to a toxic bloodcorn, regardless of season or wind conditions, it is immediately pierced by any number of these falling leaves. The sap stored in the vein between the two “wings” in the leaf is injected into the animal. The toxin in the leaves combined with the effects of the bloodcorn paralyzes the target instantly while thinning its blood. Most pierced animals bleed out quickly around the needle-like points of the leaves, while the odor of their dying blood attracts more animals to feed under the blood oak.
Ginger Vedder over 4 years ago
I understand the sentiment, but how does cosplay fit in?
ajakimber425 over 4 years ago
That’s how we view trees. They’re great to look at. Until, we realize what kind of damage they can do to our property and other things. But what we need to keep in mind. We still need them.