On "The Nature of Oaks" with Doug Tallamy
Doug Tallamy, the TA Baker Professor of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Delaware delivered the Ethel Belk Lecture at 7 pm on Thursday, March 6 2025...
On "The Nature of Oaks" with Doug Tallamy
Doug Tallamy, the TA Baker Professor of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Delaware delivered the Ethel Belk Lecture at 7 pm on Thursday, March 6 2025, in the Leonard Theater, 120 Peabody Hall (Western Campus), Miami University Oxford on “The Nature of Oaks.” Dr. Tallamy discusses what is going on in oak trees month by month, highlighting the seasonal cycles of life, death, and renewal. From woodpeckers who collect and store hundreds of acorns for sustenance to the beauty of jewel caterpillars, he will also illuminate and celebrate the wonders that occur right in our own yards and restorations. He will also share practical advice about how to plant and care for an oak, along with information about the best oak species for your area. The Nature of Oaks will inspire you to treasure these trees and to act to nurture and protect them.
Dr. Tallamy has written and co-authored several books exploring how home gardens and landscaping can provide habitat for native species, including Bringing Nature Home: How Native Plants Sustain Wildlife in Our Gardens, The Living Landscape: Designing for Beauty and Biodiversity in the Home Garden, Nature's Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation that Starts in Your Yard, and most recently, The Nature of Oaks: The Rich Ecology of Our Most Essential Native Trees.
The annual Ethel Belk Lecture is meant to expose both students and the general public to the excitement of botanically-related research and seeks to invite those speakers who can communicate this excitement in a manner that reaches a broad audience.
The lecture is in honor of Dr. Ethel Belk, who served the Botany department from 1939-1968. She is well known for her personal attention and encouragement of students, and was noted for having taught all subjects, giving her a chance to influence more students than most faculty. She was awarded a resolution passed by the Ohio Senate in 1986 honoring her outstanding contributions to Botany. This year’s Belk Lecture is cosponsored by Individualized Studies (the Western Program). A reception will follow the Lecture.
