A Little Moisture Goes a Long Way

We had just a bit of rain since our last visit, and everything in the Patch just seemed fresher!

 New bitsy green sprouts had popped up everywhere.  There were even a few little gray mushrooms (which we couldn't find when we went back to take a picture).

In addition to the recent rain, we had a blustery day that brought down many oak galls.  Two types are readily distinguishable;

Andricus californicus make apple-like galls that I've seen attached to twigs

 Besbicus mirabilis, form spotted, round galls that seem to be stuck to the underside of leaves until they end up on the ground

The galls are formed by wasp larvae.  The wasp lays its eggs in plant tissue, and when the larvae emerge, they start munching away on the tree, all the while releasing a growth hormone that causes the tree to make the gall, a little protective case around the larvae.  I have read that there are other types of wasps that do this: one in particular I'll be on the lookout for is Neuroterus saltatorius. The tiny galls on lower leaf surfaces drop in the fall and are described as hopping around like Mexican jumping beans because of the activity of the enclosed larvae.

When I was in elementary school, several gigantic oak trees shaded us in the playground where we had recess.  We used to find the Besbicus mirabilis galls everywhere in the fall, except they went by the truly unscientific name of "puff balls." Many pairs of brand new school shoes somehow didn't look so clean after a stomping on the gall, which would cause a little puff of dust to issue forth.

But I digress.  It wasn't all sunshine and roses in the Patch today.  The camp posted by the police last time was gone, but the former occupant left several items of clothing behind.  And we found more spray painting and other minor acts of vandalism.

Carving and paint on a western red cedar