Every year the pin oak loses its leaves and looks dead all winter. During the spring it jumps back to life, putting out thousands of little brownish red buds that open into tiny jungle green leaves which over time fade in color until the tree is an uneventful dark green that blends in with all the other greenery. However, we are still in the jungle green phase and when i stand in the yard and look at it i am reminded it is Spring. Everything is awakening and coming back to life, secure in the new belief that danger of frost is over.