In the foreground: a Valley Oak festooned with mistletoe. On the right of Road F, at the chaparral: another Valley Oak, showing new green leaves. On the horizon along Road F: the lone Valley Oak, surrounded by grassland at the crest of a ridge. I have seen mistletoe growing on this oak as well -- but only sporadically, only for one or two years during the two decades I have known it. So even if mistletoe gets a start, it cannot last. 9:55 am.