Richard Preston presents a glimpse into the amazing world in the canopy of the Coast Redwood.
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Monday, August 31, 2009
TED: Cary Fowler on Seed Diversity
I just watched this presentation by Cary Fowler on seed diversity and wanted to share it with you. Mr. Fowler talks about the importance of diversity in our crops and speaks briefly about the decline in apple varieties.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Adenanthera pavonina - Red bead tree
This post is part of the "Trees of the Tropics" series and has been crossposted from Trees, plants and more.
One of my oldest childhood memories is of tagging along while my family visited friends and spending the evening in their garden collecting the pretty little red seeds that were scattered in the mud. I have long wanted to know what the tree was called and imagine my delight when i came across this tree recently and learnt that it was called the Red Bead tree.. no surprises there i suppose. The seed is of an enchanting red color. The pods burst open and the seeds are scattered helter skelter by the wind. A recent wind storm and rain brought a bunch of seeds into our garden --i am yet to find out where the tree they came from is.
Anyway back to the tree i bumped into recently... here are pictures... the leaves are quite similar to (though a tad bit bigger than) those of the raintree, but the swollen pods and the red seeds lying all around were the give-away. I was glad to reconnect with this childhood friend of mine :)
One of my oldest childhood memories is of tagging along while my family visited friends and spending the evening in their garden collecting the pretty little red seeds that were scattered in the mud. I have long wanted to know what the tree was called and imagine my delight when i came across this tree recently and learnt that it was called the Red Bead tree.. no surprises there i suppose. The seed is of an enchanting red color. The pods burst open and the seeds are scattered helter skelter by the wind. A recent wind storm and rain brought a bunch of seeds into our garden --i am yet to find out where the tree they came from is.
Anyway back to the tree i bumped into recently... here are pictures... the leaves are quite similar to (though a tad bit bigger than) those of the raintree, but the swollen pods and the red seeds lying all around were the give-away. I was glad to reconnect with this childhood friend of mine :)
Friday, August 28, 2009
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Monday, August 24, 2009
Ponderosa Pines: Rugged Trees With A Sweet Smell (NPR)
Daniel Kraker with NPR reports on Ponderosa Pines in Arizona's high desert. Listen to the clip (4:20), read the article, and view Tom Beam's narrated photo slideshow.
Full Story
Audio
Photo Slideshow
NPR Website
Full Story
Audio
Photo Slideshow
NPR Website
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Ficus religiosa - Peepal, Bo-Tree
This post is part of the "Trees of the Tropics" series and has been crossposted from Trees, plants and more.
Most folks living in the indian subcontinent need no introduction to the Peepal or the Bo Tree -- at some point in primary school we are made to go through this exercise - take a leaf of the peepal tree, soak it in water overnight, gape in wide eyed wonder the next morning to see all the green stuff wash away and the bare trellis of the leaf remain, dry the leaf in sunlight and then paint on it! It was one of my favorite activities and many a colored leaf adorned the walls of my room.
It is of the Ficus family - same as the banyan. All trees have some religious significance in India, but this one beat the others by getting the 'religiosa' into its name! The peepal tree is the one under which Buddha is supposed to have attained enlightenment which probably explains the importance of this tree in the Buddhist and Hindu religions.
For some reason this tree has seldom been allowed to grow alone. A neem sapling is always planted right next to it and the trees grow together - trunks and branches inextricably interwined by the time they reach maturity. Look at the picture above - the lighter colored leaves are that of the neem and the darker ones, of the peepal.
The leaf of the peepal always makes me wonder if it was a regular at the manicurist in an earlier avtar! Seriously, look at it - the pointy showy leaf is so typical of the peepal.
The bark is smooth and lighter colored than the neem.
Most folks living in the indian subcontinent need no introduction to the Peepal or the Bo Tree -- at some point in primary school we are made to go through this exercise - take a leaf of the peepal tree, soak it in water overnight, gape in wide eyed wonder the next morning to see all the green stuff wash away and the bare trellis of the leaf remain, dry the leaf in sunlight and then paint on it! It was one of my favorite activities and many a colored leaf adorned the walls of my room.
It is of the Ficus family - same as the banyan. All trees have some religious significance in India, but this one beat the others by getting the 'religiosa' into its name! The peepal tree is the one under which Buddha is supposed to have attained enlightenment which probably explains the importance of this tree in the Buddhist and Hindu religions.
For some reason this tree has seldom been allowed to grow alone. A neem sapling is always planted right next to it and the trees grow together - trunks and branches inextricably interwined by the time they reach maturity. Look at the picture above - the lighter colored leaves are that of the neem and the darker ones, of the peepal.
The leaf of the peepal always makes me wonder if it was a regular at the manicurist in an earlier avtar! Seriously, look at it - the pointy showy leaf is so typical of the peepal.
The bark is smooth and lighter colored than the neem.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Early Forest...Oil on Canvas?
Earlier this year I exchanged emails with an artist named Mark Perry. He found http://www.earlyforest.com/ online while researching tree images. After talking about trees for a bit I ended up sending him a high res photo of a sycamore for painting reference. I completely forgot about the exchange until recently when I took a moment to reflect back on it. Mark has done a lot of really spectacular paintings that are worth looking into. To visit Mark's website go to http://www.markeperryart.com/. Mark also has a blog at http://artistlifenyc.blogspot.com/ where he mentions Early Forest (here) and posts the sycamore painting (here).
The Early Forest Team : Craig
A little bit about EarlyForest.Com creator, Craig...
I have had an interest in nature since childhood. I was lucky to have parents that encouraged curiosity and took family vacations to many of the State and National Parks all over the US. In college I had the opportunity to travel through parts of Europe and Australia photographing and learning about culture and nature as I went. In 2005 I graduated with degree in Landscape Architecture and moved to Denver, Colorado where I worked for two years. I now live just outside of Nashville, Tennessee, with my wife and baby son, where I work as a landscape designer.
I am passionate about sustainable living, and not just the "green" fad that is going on, but really paying attention to the way you live and making choices that are healthy for yourself and the rest of the world. Born and raised in Northern Indiana, I have a particular weakness for fresh produce and sunsets over red barns and fields of green crops.
I started EarlyForest.Com as a creative outlet for myself in the spring of 2008. Since then it has grown into an extensive collection of photos and articles on trees from around the world. With hundreds of photos yet to be posted, frequent trips to explore new trees and places, and new ideas and team members EarlyForest.Com is just getting started.
I have had an interest in nature since childhood. I was lucky to have parents that encouraged curiosity and took family vacations to many of the State and National Parks all over the US. In college I had the opportunity to travel through parts of Europe and Australia photographing and learning about culture and nature as I went. In 2005 I graduated with degree in Landscape Architecture and moved to Denver, Colorado where I worked for two years. I now live just outside of Nashville, Tennessee, with my wife and baby son, where I work as a landscape designer.
I am passionate about sustainable living, and not just the "green" fad that is going on, but really paying attention to the way you live and making choices that are healthy for yourself and the rest of the world. Born and raised in Northern Indiana, I have a particular weakness for fresh produce and sunsets over red barns and fields of green crops.
I started EarlyForest.Com as a creative outlet for myself in the spring of 2008. Since then it has grown into an extensive collection of photos and articles on trees from around the world. With hundreds of photos yet to be posted, frequent trips to explore new trees and places, and new ideas and team members EarlyForest.Com is just getting started.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Arboretum Review : Christy Woods
Christy Woods
Ball State University
Muncie, Indiana
View Location on the Arboretum Map
Date Visited : 17 August 2009
Earlier this week I stopped into my old Alma mater, Ball State University, to have lunch with some friends and explore Christy Woods. I first visited Christy Woods several years back while taking a freshman course in the Natural Resources department. The 18 acre site, located on the edge of campus, is host to a variety of educational activities and serves as a sort of outdoor classroom.
Hesitant to park in any campus parking lots, (thanks to a particularly efficient ticketing team) I chose to park along West Riverside Avenue. Entrances exist on multiple sides of Christy Woods making it easy to access and pass through.
Information boards greet visitors at each entrance and offer some information on the woods.
The map above shows the layout of the woods. We entered near the orange arrow and progressed south through the Conifer Garden and into the Prairie.
The Prairie
While exploring the pathways through the Prairie it is easy to forget that you are in the middle of the city. 
Just south of the Prairie are the green houses that hold the Wheeler Orchid Collection.
The Wheeler Orchid Collection
Thousands of Orchids cover every surface of the greenhouse.
Just outside of the orchid house is the East Woods. The East Woods trails cut through thick Indiana forest. Watch out for the abundant poison ivy that creeps up to the trail edge.
The East Entrance
I was disappointed to observe that the trees in Christy Woods are not identified, though it makes sense considering teachers use these trees to quiz students on identification. All in all the woods offer students a place to learn about the natural world without leaving campus. It has been a great resource to the University that I hope will remain for generations to come.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
The Forests of The Great Smoky Mountains
I spent some time in The Great Smoky Mountains this summer with my family. It was a rare reminder of my childhood adventures, traveling around the United States and exploring the breathtaking National Parks. The only difference is that now I am the father and I have a family of my own. It makes me stop to wonder what sorts of experiences my son will have someday with his children. Will the vast wilderness still exist for them to explore? It is likely that most of it will, but what I saw this summer reminded me that our forests are far more fragile than we often assume.
Nestled into our cabin just outside of the all-day/all-night carnival of Gatlinburg, TN the mountains seemed to be teeming with life, but 4,000 feet above a different scene played out. Standing tall upon the highest peaks of the Smoky Mountains resides the noble Fraser Fir. These trees thrive in conditions that few other trees could survive, but like the American Chestnut before it, nature has turned against it (will a little help from humanity). The slopes, once covered in a blanket of green, are now punctuated by thousands upon thousands of dead and dying trees.
The view from the Clingmans Dome clearly shows the ruin upon the mountain side. The tiny Balsam Woolly Adelgid (Adelges piceae Ratzeburg), a parasite accidentally brought over from Europe in the early 1900s has infected the fir trees, slowly destroying the population. Efforts have been underway for decades to save the trees but no solution has proven effective for solving the problem on such a massive scale. Sprays have shown that they can protect the trees, but only when applied liberally. Unfortunately it would be impossible to spray the entire forest. Other measures against the Adelgid involve bringing in beetles to feed upon them, but no significant impact has yet been observed. As the Fraser Fir trees whither on the mountain tops a new threat has been creeping into the valleys. Across America the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (Adelges tsugae) a close cousin to the Balsam Woolly Adelgid has been spreading. It has taken hold along the eastern coast of the United States from Georgia to Maine and has spread inland as far as Tennessee and Kentucky. While the pest is native to eastern Asia and the western edge of the United States, the trees in those regions have adapted natural defenses to protect themselves. The Canadian/Eastern Hemlock and the Carolina Hemlock do not have the ability to fend off the pest and are killed within a few years.
Some groups, like the Friends of the Smokies and SaveOurHemlocks.Org are working hard to do what they can to protect the Hemlocks from the Adelgid threat. You can help by keeping your eyes open for possible infestations and contacting your state and county if you suspect anything. It is also important not to collect trees from the wild and bring them into your community. You could be spreading the pests without knowing it, even if the plant looks healthy at the time. For more information on how the treat trees on your property or ways to help visit the links below.
Resources:
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Monday, August 17, 2009
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Terminalia catappa - Tropical Almond
This post is part of the "Trees of the Tropics" series and has been crossposted from Trees, plants and more.
The tropical almond is quite different from the almond tree whose nuts we all love. The tropical almond is a deciduous tree grown for the shade it provides and for its beauty. The leaves turn a beautiful reddish brown color before falling. Here is a tree that I photographed in the south Indian town of Kanchipuram.
The tropical almond is quite different from the almond tree whose nuts we all love. The tropical almond is a deciduous tree grown for the shade it provides and for its beauty. The leaves turn a beautiful reddish brown color before falling. Here is a tree that I photographed in the south Indian town of Kanchipuram.
The tree has a host of local names - the Indian Almond, Bengal Almond, Singapore Almond, Sea Almond, among others.
The leaves in this picture are sunwashed -- they were actually quite dark green in color.
I have never seen the flowers of this tree, but am told they are quite pretty. Someday....
Friday, August 14, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Monday, August 10, 2009
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Azadirachta indicahi - Neem
This post is part of the "Trees of the Tropics" Series and is composed of material from Trees, plants and more.
What did people do before toothpastes and toothbrushes came into being? Go around with bad breath?
South asians had a simple solution - they used twigs of the neem tree as brushes or crushed a bunch of leaves to form a "tooth-paste". No wonder then that the neem is so widespread in India. It has long been used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat a host of ailments and is thought to have astringent, antibacterial, antifungal, antiseptic and anti-imflammatory properties. What more do you need for healthy teeth and strong gums?!
The aroma of the leaves that spreads with the wind is said to have a therapeutic effect, which is another reason why this tree was widely planted all over the region.
The leaves are now used as a natural pesticide.
Here are some more pictures of the neem:
What did people do before toothpastes and toothbrushes came into being? Go around with bad breath?
South asians had a simple solution - they used twigs of the neem tree as brushes or crushed a bunch of leaves to form a "tooth-paste". No wonder then that the neem is so widespread in India. It has long been used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat a host of ailments and is thought to have astringent, antibacterial, antifungal, antiseptic and anti-imflammatory properties. What more do you need for healthy teeth and strong gums?!
The aroma of the leaves that spreads with the wind is said to have a therapeutic effect, which is another reason why this tree was widely planted all over the region.
The leaves are now used as a natural pesticide.
Here are some more pictures of the neem:
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