Thomas – My Favorite Trees

April 16, 2024

Q&A 2

Before the podcast reaches its conclusion, I wanted to make sure listeners had a chance to be involved with what I end up talking about. Today, I answer questions from patrons, email, and social media about a variety of topics. Come hear about my creative process, my favorite extinct trees, what I’ve got next in store, and so much more.
Huge thanks to Earth Apples, Laurie H, Tristan W, Eileen G, Nicholas, and CJ for submitting such awesome questions.
Music is by Academy Garden (academygarden.bandcamp.com)
Cover Art is by @boomerangbrit on Instagram
Script Editing and Social Media is by Laurie Hilburn (lauriehilburn.com)
Follow me on Twitter and Facebook @MyFavoriteTrees and on Instagram @treepodcast

April 2, 2024

Episode 99: The Elderberry

For the final topic episode of My Favorite Trees, we take one last look at the Celtic Ogham Tree Calendar. All the way at the end is a large shrub lauded for its medicinal properties–the Elderberry. In culture, this plant represents a cycle of rebirth and the new beginnings that all endings bring. Let’s explore the unique aspects of this small tree and look at the journey it has been on throughout time.
Please send me questions for my upcoming Q&A episode! Less than two weeks to go!
Music is by Academy Garden (academygarden.bandcamp.com)
Cover Art is by @boomerangbrit on Instagram
Script Editing and Social Media is by Laurie Hilburn (lhilburn.journoportfolio.com)
Follow me on Twitter and Facebook @MyFavoriteTrees and on Instagram @treepodcast

Sources

https://extension.wvu.edu/agriculture/horticulture/elderberry

https://www.britannica.com/plant/elder-plant

https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/sambucus_nigra_l.shtml

https://realgardensgrownatives.com/?p=4031

https://www.paganpens.co.uk/the-oghma-calendar

https://chris-anne.com/portfolio/ogham-ruis-elder-tree-r/

https://treesforlife.org.uk/into-the-forest/trees-plants-animals/trees/elder/

https://www.countrylife.co.uk/nature/history-elder-tree-deities-dryads-shakespeare-j-k-rowling-197720

https://ghostarchive.org/archive/fI41K

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7347422/

https://www.stgermainliqueur.com/articles/the-curious-history-of-elderflowers/

March 19, 2024

Episode 98: The Spruce Revisited

For quite some time now, I’ve been wanting to go back and re-record my Sitka Spruce episode and add more stories I’ve learned since living in Alaska. Simultaneously, you may have wondered why I’ve only covered one of the most loved evergreen conifer groups around the world once. To be honest, I have some issues with the Picea genus, but I suppose now is as good a time as any to air out some dirty laundry. Today, I’ll give the Spruce the credit it’s due and share those Sitka stories I’ve been holding back. But rest assured, you’ll find out how I really feel about these wintry northern giants.
Please send me questions to answer for my upcoming Q&A! Email me at treeguythomas@gmail.com or check out my socials below.
Check out some Tonkori sketches I mentioned in this episode (https://soundcloud.com/masahiro-bessho/sets/tonkori-sound-sketch)
Music is by Academy Garden (academygarden.bandcamp.com)
Cover Art is by @boomerangbrit on Instagram
Script Editing and Social Media is by Laurie Hilburn (lhilburn.journoportfolio.com)
Follow me on Twitter and Facebook @MyFavoriteTrees and on Instagram @treepodcast

Sources:

https://wiggersfurniture.blogspot.com/2011/01/story-of-kiid-kiyaas-golden-spruce.html

https://www.oregon.gov/ODF/Documents/ForestBenefits/SitkaSpruce.pdf

FROST HARDINESS AND DORMANCY IN CONIFERS by 1/ C. Glerum 1/

https://beerconnoisseur.com/articles/history-spruce-beer

https://www.conifers.org/pi/Picea.php

https://forest.jrc.ec.europa.eu/media/atlas/Picea_abies.pdf

https://bugwoodcloud.org/resource/files/25386.pdf

https://bonsai4me.com/speciesguides/picea-spruce-bonsai/

https://www.conifers.org/pi/Picea_jezoensis.php

https://soundcloud.com/masahiro-bessho/sets/tonkori-sound-sketch

https://www.visittrentino.info/en/articles/snow-and-nature/violin-s-forest

March 5, 2024

Episode 97: The Sacred Trees of Kiso

I teased the idea of this episode a few months ago when I covered the Arborvitae, mentioning that the Japanese Arborvitae belonged to a group of species held sacred in a specific forest in Japan. Today, I’d like to highlight these species: two Arborvitae, two Cypresses, and an Umbrella Pine (which isn’t really a Pine). We’ll talk about what makes them biologically special as well as special to those who have lived in and around the Kiso Forest. This relationship teaches us much about Japan’s historic relationship with the natural world and the human-forest connection in general.

Tons of bonus content is available on my Patreon! (patreon.com/MyFavoriteTrees)
Music is by Academy Garden (academygarden.bandcamp.com)
Cover Art is by @boomerangbrit on Instagram
Script Editing and Social Media is by Laurie Hilburn (lhilburn.journoportfolio.com)
Follow me on Twitter and Facebook @MyFavoriteTrees and on Instagram @treepodcast
Send me an email with questions and suggestions at treeguythomas@gmail.com

Sources:

https://www.conifers.org/cu/Thuja_standishii.php

https://www.conifers.org/cu/Thujopsis.php

https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=279623

https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=279589

https://www.conifers.org/sc/Sciadopityaceae.php

https://www.nakasendoway.com/kiso-forest/

https://www.gov-online.go.jp/eng/publicity/book/hlj/html/201701/201701_13_en.html

https://www.history.com/topics/asian-history/meiji-restoration

https://www.tofugu.com/japan/state-shinto/

https://muza-chan.net/japan/index.php/blog/shinboku-sacred-tree

https://www.aeon.info/ef/midoripress/japanese/20120614__chinju-no-mori_have_you_ever_traveled_in_japan.html

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19568835/

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-japanese-shrine-has-been-torn-down-and-rebuilt-every-20-years-for-the-past-millennium-575558/

https://www.indefenseofplants.com/blog/tag/Sciadopityaceae

February 20, 2024

Episode 96: The Mulberry

Many children around the world grow up singing the nursery rhyme, “Here we go ’round the Mulberry bush.” But what is a Mulberry bush? And have you ever even seen its tasty Mulberries in grocery stores? Turns out, this tree (not bush) is better known for something other than its fruit, and that fame has deeply pervaded world cultures whether you know it or not. Listen to find out how, but I’ll give you a hint! The Mulberry is closely related to Fig Trees, so it may or may not have something to do with a particular insect.

Tons of bonus content is available on my Patreon! (patreon.com/MyFavoriteTrees)
Music is by Academy Garden (academygarden.bandcamp.com)
Cover Art is by @boomerangbrit on Instagram
Script Editing and Social Media is by Laurie Hilburn (lhilburn.journoportfolio.com)
Follow me on Twitter and Facebook @MyFavoriteTrees and on Instagram @treepodcast

Sources:

https://www.britannica.com/plant/Moraceae

https://deepgreenpermaculture.com/2021/04/01/what-is-osage-orange-and-is-it-edible/

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0233113

https://www.ahi-intl.farm/post/silkworm-farming

https://www.azer.com/aiweb/categories/magazine/83_folder/83_articles/83_silk.html

Ovid-Metamorphoses

https://www.cravat-club.com/blogs/news/the-history-of-silk-in-england

https://writingtoberead.com/2021/06/30/dark-origins-here-we-go-round-the-mulberry-bush/

https://www.bartramsgarden.org/the-bartrams-the-white-mulberry-tree-and-the-story-of-american-silk/

https://www.fondazioneslowfood.com/en/ark-of-taste-slow-food/red-mulberry/

February 6, 2024

Episode 95: The Tupelo (ft. Doug Still)

On this special field trip of an episode, I join arborist and host of the podcast, “This Old Tree,” Doug Still on a hike through some Tupelo groves on Cape Cod. Together, we learn about the natural habitat of these trees, why they’re so loved in Spring and Fall, how the folks on Martha’s Vineyard came up with a unique nickname for them, and how modern humans have shaped the landscape of scenic Cape Cod.

Want to hear more from Doug? Check out his podcast, This Old Tree on your podcast app of choice or on his website: thisoldtree.show

Behind the scenes footage of my trip to the Cape with Doug are available on Patreon, along with tons of other bonus content! (patreon.com/MyFavoriteTrees)
Music is by Academy Garden (academygarden.bandcamp.com)
Cover Art is by @boomerangbrit on Instagram
Script Editing and Social Media is by Laurie Hilburn (lhilburn.journoportfolio.com)
Follow me on Twitter and Facebook @MyFavoriteTrees and on Instagram @treepodcast

Sources:

https://www.smileyhoney.com/blogs/honey-school/what-is-tupelo-honey

https://www.theoi.com/Nymphe/NymphaiNysiades.html

https://libraryexhibits.uvm.edu/omeka/exhibits/show/uvmtrees/black-tupelo

https://pithandvigor.com/2023/08/in-praise-of-the-tupelo/

https://provincetownindependent.org/visual/2022/07/27/walking-where-the-tupelos-grow/

https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=nysy

https://www.tyrantfarms.com/black-tupelo-fruit-id-recipe-nyssa-sylvatica/

https://arbordayblog.org/landscapedesign/8-trees-that-flaunt-brilliant-fall-color/

January 23, 2024

Episode 94: The Myrtle

The Myrtle is a small Mediterranean tree with significance tied to just about every culture of that region–due in large part to how fragrant the plant is. It enlivens Jewish holidays, protects one from curses, and is a display of love and beauty so powerful that it can start wars. Help me ring in the Jewish Tree New Year by learning how this fragrant tree can be so significant and how it shows up in our lives today.

Tons of bonus content is available on my Patreon! (patreon.com/MyFavoriteTrees)
Music is by Academy Garden (academygarden.bandcamp.com)
Cover Art is by @boomerangbrit on Instagram
Script Editing and Social Media is by Laurie Hilburn (lhilburn.journoportfolio.com)
Follow me on Twitter and Facebook @MyFavoriteTrees and on Instagram @treepodcast

Sources:

https://www.britannica.com/plant/myrtle

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9933039/

https://www.uicnmed.org/nabp/database/HTM/PDF/p47.pdf

https://blog.library.si.edu/blog/2018/06/28/myrtle-the-provenance-and-meaning-of-a-plant/

https://www.neot-kedumim.org.il/index-plant-of-the-month/the-myrtle/

https://reformjudaism.org/sukkot-diversity-and-unity-how-each-us-four-species

https://aqua-oleum.co.uk/2022/02/14/myrtle-symbol-of-love-and-beauty/

January 9, 2024January 9, 2024

Episode 93: Forester Spotlight-Richard St. Barbe Baker

Happy New Year, tree fans! For the first episode of 2024, I present to you another story of a historical figure that helped reshape our modern relationship with trees and forests. I’m sure you’ve come across a number of charitable organizations that raise money to plant trees all over the world, especially in countries within Africa and Latin America. But how did all these groups get their start? Today, we’ll learn about Richard St. Barbe Baker, an Englishman who came to be known as the first global conservationist. Baker’s creation of the Men of the Trees group in Kenya over a hundred years ago has grown to be something with monumental ambitions and inspired many others to campaign for altruistic goals in the world of forest restoration.

Tons of bonus content is available on my Patreon! (patreon.com/MyFavoriteTrees)
Music is by Academy Garden (academygarden.bandcamp.com)
Cover Art is by @boomerangbrit on Instagram
Script Editing and Social Media is by Laurie Hilburn (lhilburn.journoportfolio.com)
Follow me on Twitter and Facebook @MyFavoriteTrees and on Instagram @treepodcast

Sources:

http://stbarbe.library.usask.ca/bio

https://www.theauxiliaries.com/men-alphabetical/men-b/baker-tgstb/baker.html

https://globalearthrepairfoundation.org/richard-st-barbe-baker/

https://assets.ctfassets.net/yz0k6ixzxi45/35wTfqySPCcOSWKgmIgIke/1942f82a2203a0dda6bf24a0a74d8b17/17_JAN_12.pdf

https://news.bahai.org/story/1292/

https://www.internationaltreefoundation.org/our-history

https://www.internationaltreefoundation.org/news/st-barbes-legacy-pioneer-forester-and-global-conservationist

https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/great-green-wall/

https://bahaipedia.org/Kenya

https://www.fao.org/publications/home/fao-flagship-publications/the-state-of-the-worlds-forests/en

https://iefworld.org/StBarbeBaker

December 26, 2023December 26, 2023

Episode 92: The Fir

While there are many holidays that coincide with the Winter season, there are few that involve traditions I love so much as the Christmas Tree. And while there are many options for what kind of evergreen conifer to bring into your home and decorate with lights and baubles, the champion of them all is the Fir. What is it about this tree that makes it so well-loved at this time of year? I’ll explore this species’ relationship with the holiday, dive into why Russia ties a holiday tree to New Years instead, and provide some truly cursed Fir facts that’ll make you forget that this is a Christmas special. I warned you.

Tons of bonus content is available on my Patreon! (patreon.com/MyFavoriteTrees)
Music is by Academy Garden (academygarden.bandcamp.com)
Cover Art is by @boomerangbrit on Instagram
Script Editing and Social Media is by Laurie Hilburn (lhilburn.journoportfolio.com)
Follow me on Twitter and Facebook @MyFavoriteTrees and on Instagram @treepodcast

Sources:

https://www.treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/abies/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6268138/

https://ncchristmastrees.com/fraser-fir-trees/

https://cnr.ncsu.edu/news/2021/12/christmas-trees-smell-good/

https://www.conifers.org/pi/Abies_procera.php

https://andrewcfox.wixsite.com/andrewcfox/post/totw-fir

https://andrewcfox.wixsite.com/andrewcfox/post/tree-of-the-week-the-trojan-horse

https://www.rbth.com/history/335727-charlotte-prussia-christmas-russia

https://www.new-east-archive.org/articles/show/9424/yolka-russia-new-year-tree-pagan-soviet-christmas

https://www.npr.org/2015/12/19/460186573/dont-call-it-a-christmas-tree-how-russias-yolka-survived-the-revolution

https://www.whitehousehistory.org/press-room/press-backgrounders/white-house-christmas-trees

https://www.nps.gov/whho/learn/historyculture/national-christmas-tree-history.htm

https://northernwoodlands.org/articles/article/blisters

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/adsu.202200234

December 12, 2023

Episode 91: The Arborvitae

Depending on where you live, you may know this tree better as Cedar. There’s the Northern White-Cedar, the Western Redcedar, and a few others. But these species, more broadly known as Arborvitae or Thuja, are in a completely different plant family than “true Cedars.” Today, I’ll address this name confusion and dive way deep into why these incredible and unique trees don’t need to bank off of someone else’s success. From sacred forests in Japan, to swamps in the Upper Midwest, to the groves of giants in the Pacific Northwest, Arborvitaes are some of the most deserving individuals of the title “Tree of Life.”

Tons of bonus content is available on my Patreon! (patreon.com/MyFavoriteTrees)
Music is by Academy Garden (academygarden.bandcamp.com)
Cover Art is by @boomerangbrit on Instagram
Script Editing and Social Media is by Laurie Hilburn (lhilburn.journoportfolio.com)
Follow me on Twitter and Facebook @MyFavoriteTrees and on Instagram @treepodcast