Knopper Gall

This acorn deformity is caused by the oak gall wasp (andricus quercuscalicis).  It was first seen in Britain in the 1950's but not established until the 1970's.  It is harmless to the oak tree itself but may decrease the quantity of annual healthy acorns which varies from year to year as do the gall wasps.  When laying their eggs they excrete a chemical which causes the growth and in which the larvae are enclosed until the spring when they find their way out into the big wide world.

Zoom 70th birthday party of a great friend in Sydney organised by another friend in Melbourne. There were six of us, the others living in Britain.  A lovely reunion of old friends.

My brother R came over later to prune the top of the hedges which had grown about 4 feet too high during the summer.  Amazing how much light they had been blocking around the back door!