What is it about acorns?
- Barbara Antunes
- May 1
- 2 min read
I love hiking, especially with my dogs! We were on a beautiful trail, it was a lovely sunny day and we got in a tunnel of trees! My dogs are always intrigued by all the smells during our hikes, so it was no surprise when they stop to sniff a few acorns on the floor. Picking up a little branch with two green acorns attached, and a couple of leaves starting to wither, I was instantly transported to my childhood by an old memory, remembering the feel of these gems: so soft, yet incredibly hard and sturdy. I even remembered the smell! So, of course, I had to take a few pictures. Arriving home and going through all the photos I took, I knew this one would have to be a painting, as the light and shade on these acorns was mesmerizing.
There’s something quietly magical about acorns. Nestled in their textured caps and often found clinging to graceful branches, these small, soft nuts are symbols of potential and patience. Despite their modest size, each acorn holds the blueprint of a mighty oak tree. To run your fingers over an acorn is to feel a soft, almost suede-like texture, gentle to the touch and surprisingly delicate—an earthy contrast to the strength it promises to become.
Acorns play a vital role in the ecosystems they grow in. They are a rich source of food for many species, from squirrels and deer to birds and insects. As they fall in autumn, acorns become nature’s offering to the forest floor, feeding animals and creating the conditions for future oaks to take root. It’s this quiet, generous cycle that makes them so special—not just as seeds, but as participants in the rhythm of life.
In Portugal, acorns have a deep cultural and ecological importance. It is home to a few species and a vast forests of cork oak (Quercus suber), a species that produces not only the cork used in everything from wine stoppers to fashion, but also these precious acorns. In the Alentejo region, the acorns feed the famed Iberian pigs, giving rise to some of the world’s most celebrated cured meats. The cork oak is so revered in Portugal that it's legally protected, a living emblem of sustainability and national pride.
To hold an acorn in your hand is to connect with nature’s sense of time and intention. Its quiet presence make it a small work of art—one that speaks of resilience, growth, and unseen strength. Whether you're admiring a real one in the forest or gazing at a painted branch with two nestled together, acorns remind us that greatness often begins in the most humble forms.
I didn’t know I was going to write a tribute to acorns today, how wonderful!
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