If they are allowed to decompose, they provide nutrition for plants. Nitrogen is one of the most important elements for tree growth and one of the hardest elements for trees to obtain.

The problem is that nitrogen exists as a gas in its most basic form, which is a state most trees cannot utilize. Legumes, such as locust or catalpa trees, can take nitrogen from the air. The way most other trees obtain nitrogen is when it is part of decomposing organic material.

Once a leaf falls to the ground, certain decomposing fungi or bacteria begin breaking it down into its basic elements. Nitrogen is converted into ammonium or nitrates, a form of nitrogen that trees and other plants can absorb and utilize. Most leaves will completely decompose within a year.

When you rake leaves and burn them, you are unleashing greenhouse gasses like carbon and causing denitrofication as the nitrogen is released as a gas into the atmosphere. Another option is to mulch the leaves and use them as fertilizer or merely rake them into the forest and let them decompose; this will enrich the woodland environment.

Walnut collection

Thanks to residents of Frederick County, the Maryland Forest Service obtained 900 bushels of walnuts for the state nursery to grow as seedlings. These nuts will produce about 30,000 seedlings that will be ready for planting next fall. Thanks to everyone who collected these walnuts, especially those that brought them up to the Gambrill Park office.

Osage oranges

What is that yellow fruit that's bigger than a softball?

The native Osage orange tree (Maclura pomifera) may be more commonly known as the hedge apple or horse apple because of the apple-sized fruit that develops on the female trees. A mature Osage orange tree has a short, thick trunk and a spherical crown. The trees can be found in Frederick County but are more prevalent in the Central Plains where they were used in 1930s erosion control plantings.

The name hedge apple derived from its use there in hedge rows. The fruit is a hard, bumpy yellow-green sphere, with a milky juice that is considered inedible, although horses can eat it. The fruit has a mild orange-like pleasant scent and has a following for its use as a repellant for insects, spiders and rodents. The dense, strong yellowish wood can be used for tool handles and primitive bows.

Nature Notes is compiled by Ginny Brace. Contact her at naturenotesfnp@aol.com.

Post your comments » Soldier will likely be fired after alleged desertion The Army will likely fire a Westminster soldier accused of desertion, even though his family claims he did everything he could to get back to his unit after coming home on emergency leave to care for his sick wife and newborn daughter. Crash victim's widow recalls happy years together Mary Pat Hane Kulina, widow of Stephen P. Kulina, who died in a motorcycle crash this week, said her husband was the kind of man who would keep on working until he got the job done. Fire & Police Blotter Purse theft investigated Zwinak-led Lancers win GAITHERSBURG -- At practice, Linganore running back Zach Zwinak is used to running the length of the football field. Cougars roll on with another Rout THURMONT -- The Catoctin football players stood and kneeled behind the regional championship banner on the track at the school Friday night, yelling "we're undefeated" and pumping their fists in the air as fans applauded.