Red oak whisks

Translated from Lithuanian. 
Author: Birutė Lenktytė-Masiliauskienė (@laumiupirtis)
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Nature lovers do not like red oaks – they are foreign species (fortunately, they are not yet on the list of invasive species), spread quickly, grow rapidly, and are not susceptible to diseases or pests...
Practically the only natural enemies in Lithuanian nature are bath masters (I would say a type of beaver, also found mostly near water and looking predatory at the surrounding thickets). 🙂
And the bath masters really like this plant.
It combines the good qualities of Oak and Maple, which is why some people even call this tree an oak-maple or maple-leaved oak. Despite the similarity of the leaves, it is definitely not a maple, as you can see in the fall when standing under a large red oak. If maple fruits are small "propellers," then red oak fruits (like other Oaks) are "bombs with berets." Red oak acorns are massive and have a strong spike at the tip – falling from a height, they can pierce a hole in the nape. Squirrels in such oak forests must have well-trained jaw muscles and are not afraid brake them. I can't even imagine how jays don't break their beaks... 🙂
Only the branches of young trees are suitable for whisks. The branches of large trees are hard and thick, and the leaves are like tin cans, lacking the softness and lightness that make the whisks of this tree so highly valued. Another great feature is that they are strong and durable. They are easy to tie and can be adapted to the most diverse wishes and fantasies of bath masters. Whisk can be tied very small or huge, traditional or long-handled... And what's more, these are probably the last whisk brooms of the season, heralding the end of summer... And at the same time, the beginning of a new sauna season. Although that season doesn't really end – especially in a year like this...

About Author: 🌿 Birutė Lenktytė-Masiliauskienė A renowned Lithuanian bath master and expert with the International Bath Academy, Birutė is celebrated for her mastery of whisking, the ritual use of herbs and branches to infuse the sauna with healing energy. Her work keeps the sacred traditions of Lithuanian bathing alive and thriving.