Episodes – Page 2 – My Favorite Trees

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

Sources:

https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/32378/2816862

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

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

https://www.encyclopedia.com/plants-and-animals/botany/botany-general/thuja

https://landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu/plants/thuja-occidentalis

https://fourdirectionsteachings.com/transcripts/ojibwe.html

https://northernwilds.com/the-spirit-little-cedar-tree-on-lake-superior/

https://onondagalakehistoricalecology.weebly.com/northern-white-cedar-swamp.html

https://libraryexhibits.uvm.edu/omeka/exhibits/show/uvmtrees/northernwhitecedar/traditional-uses

https://nrd.kbic-nsn.gov/sites/default/files/fs-4medicines.pdf

https://wildadirondacks.org/trees-of-the-adirondacks-northern-white-cedar-thuja-occidentalis.html

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2647905/

https://www.ictinc.ca/blog/indigenous-culturally-modified-trees

https://www.jstor.org/stable/40316086

https://www.mtpr.org/arts-culture/2018-11-26/field-notes-the-power-of-the-western-red-cedar

https://indigenousfoundations.arts.ubc.ca/totem_poles/

https://www.lakewildernessarboretum.org/natural-areas/tribal-life-trail/native-use-of-the-western-red-cedar/

https://plants.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/plantguide/pdf/pg_thpl.pdf

https://www.webpages.uidaho.edu/arch499/nonwest/northwest/theirtools.htm

https://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/06/us/06alaska.html

November 28, 2023

Episode 90: The African Marula

On this rare trip to the African continent, we look at a keystone savanna species: the Marula. These trees reflect the movement of the great Bantu Migration, play a key role in certain fertility traditions, and allegedly get elephants drunk. The Marula will also teach us that apparently everything is a nut tree.

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://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/39669663.pdf

https://www.krugerpark.co.za/africa_marula.html

https://www.bushwise.guide/blog/fascinating-tree-south-african-lowveld/

https://www.aurumafrica.eu/en/marula-oil-rare-pure-natural/marula-tree/

https://sourcefood.co.za/marula-fruit-source-inspiration/

https://www.healthline.com/health/marula-oil-benefits#benefits

https://www.herbalgram.org/resources/herbalgram/issues/79/table-of-contents/article3304/

https://bioone.org/journals/Tropical-Conservation-Science/volume-12/issue-1/1940082919828969/Communities-and-Conservation–Marula-Trees-Sclerocarya-birrea-subsp-caffra/10.1177/1940082919828969.full

https://demandafrica.com/food/from-marula-to-amarula/

https://www.worldhistory.org/Bantu_Migration/

https://nap.nationalacademies.org/read/11879/chapter/9

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989421004583

https://draymans.com/product/hakkiesdraad-mampoer/

November 14, 2023

Episode 89: The Pinyon Pine

Of the many Pine species in the world, only a few yield seeds that we know as Pine Nuts. That’s right, we’re not done with nuts quite yet. In the US, we call these nut-producing Pines Pinyons. The Pinyon Pine is found all over the American southwest and has played a vital role in the diet and culture of numerous indigenous nations in that region for thousands of years. Come explore this history and learn about how Pine Nuts are viewed around the world.

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.fs.usda.gov/database/feis/plants/tree/pinedu/all.html

https://historycolored.com/articles/8756/11th-century-7-historical-events-that-happened-in-the-11th-century/

https://in.nau.edu/pinyon-webquest/task-5/

https://pinenut.com/pinon-pinyon-history/value-nevada-forests.shtml

https://www.desertusa.com/lil/Pinyon-Pine-Nuts-lil.html

https://wakandrums.com/the-sacred-trees-page-2

http://npshistory.com/nature_notes/grca/vol8-9c.htm

https://wholesalenutsanddriedfruit.com/history-of-pine-nuts/

https://toscanamia.blog/2022/09/03/what-are-italian-pinenuts/

https://www.freeworld-trading.co.uk/product/pinenuts/

https://www.foodauthority.nsw.gov.au/about-us/science/food-risk-studies/pine-nuts-and-pine-mouth

https://www.finedininglovers.com/article/pine-nuts-z-26-things-know

October 31, 2023

Episode 88: The Macadamia Tree

For the conclusion of this second Nut Tree Miniseries, I present you with the Macadamia Nut. An exotic snack with an absurdly hard shell that many associate with the island state of Hawaii–but one whose origins actually bring us to the rainforests of northern Australia. Learn about the aboriginal human relationship with this nut tree, how it became so strongly associated with Hawaii, and why a 21st century scandal sent its popularity skyward in South Korea.

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.growables.org/information/TropicalFruit/Macadamia.htm

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4125148/

https://carnegiemnh.org/biomimicry-is-real-world-inspiration/

https://www.nutcellars.com/blog/why-are-macadamia-nuts-so-expensive

https://www.aboriginalculture.com.au/bush-foods/

https://foodtank.com/news/2013/12/indigenous-crop-macadamia-australias-national-nut/

https://wholesalenutsanddriedfruit.com/the-history-of-the-macadamia-nut/

https://www.australian-macadamias.org/consumer/an-australian-legend/the-macadamia-legend/

https://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/res-039.pdf

https://www.hawaiilife.com/blog/amazing-story-macadamia-nuts-hawaii/

https://tellus.ars.usda.gov/stories/articles/the-curious-case-of-macadamia-quick-decline

https://www.wsj.com/articles/BL-KRTB-7115

https://www.khan.co.kr/economy/economy-general/article/201412101529131/?med=khan

https://namu.wiki/w/%EB%8C%80%ED%95%9C%ED%95%AD%EA%B3%B5%20086%ED%8E%B8%20%EC%9D%B4%EB%A5%99%EC%A7%80%EC%97%B0%20%EC%82%AC%EA%B1%B4

October 17, 2023October 17, 2023

Episode 87: The Pistachio Tree

The Pistachio is considered the most successful plant introduction to the United States in the 20th century. Up until then, they were a staple part of a diet that didn’t stray far from western Asia and the Mediterranean. Though they’ve been a part of human life for thousands of years, their presence in the global market is just a few decades old. And even if you’re at all familiar with how the western world perceives Iran, you may be surprised as to how much of an impact those relationships have affected this little green nut.
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://louiseferguson.ucdavis.edu/sites/g/files/dgvnsk6001/files/inline-files/7.pdf

https://ucanr.edu/sites/fruitandnut/files/73683.pdf

https://www.britannica.com/topic/turpentine

https://www.britannica.com/topic/mastic

https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-540-34533-6_12

https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/12/2/323

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0305440304001694

https://americanpistachios.org/growing-and-harvesting/history

https://www.vicksburgpost.com/2020/01/31/cashews-pistachios-and-mangos-oh-my/

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/where-are-pistachios-from

https://www.bourseandbazaar.com/articles/2018/12/18/californian-famers-waged-war-on-iranian-pistachios-and-won

https://tellus.ars.usda.gov/stories/articles/plant-explorers-on-film

https://www.greece-is.com/history-aegina-pistachio-2-recipes-love/

https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3108713/story-pistachio-nuts-origins-middle-east-and-how-italy-grows

September 19, 2023September 19, 2023

Episode 85: The Pawpaw

The Pawpaw tree is a mysterious one, somehow being both my most requested topic and one many are likely to not have heard of. This tree species produces the largest native tree fruit in North America, but despite growing among temperate Oaks and Hickories, it has qualities seen only in otherwise tropical plants. Explore the Pawpaw with me, from its earliest impacts on human history to how it could find its way back into the spotlight today.
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://susqnha.org/riverroots-forgotten-fruit-pawpaw/

https://raintreenursery.com/blogs/pnw-edible-plant-blog/considering-pawpaw-biology-to-inform-how-to-grow-them

https://www.gardenclub.org/blog/native-american-paw-paw-trees

https://apalacheresearch.com/2021/06/24/the-indigenous-agriculture-of-the-americas-pawpaw-fruit/

https://daily.jstor.org/plant-of-the-month-the-pawpaw/

https://www.nps.gov/articles/pawpaw.htm

https://www.fs.usda.gov/database/feis/plants/tree/asitri/all.html#BOTANICAL%20AND%20ECOLOGICAL%20CHARACTERISTICS

https://patch.com/massachusetts/charlestown/historic-canoe-burning-underway-near-boston-harbor

https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/native-americans-and-freedom-religion/

https://heppy.org/paw-paw-festival/

September 5, 2023

Episode 84: Forester Spotlight-Gifford Pinchot

This is the first of a new episode type I’ll be sprinkling into the mix, where I dive into the life of notable individuals who helped shape the profession of forestry and revolutionize our relationship with forests. To kick things off, I’m shining a light on Gifford Pinchot, the first Chief Forester of the US Forest Service. We’ll get into what motivated him to introduce the idea of resource conservation in America and how he came to expand the role the government played in land management. Then we’ll go deeper to understand his relationship with preservationist John Muir and how they came to be on opposing sides in the battle to dam a scenic valley in Yosemite National Park.
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.fs.usda.gov/detail/greytowers/aboutgreytowers/history/?cid=stelprd3824502

https://environment.yale.edu/news/article/first-forester-the-conservation-legacy-of-gifford-pinchot

https://www.nationalforests.org/blog/biltmore-estate-the-birth-of-forestry

https://www.neh.gov/article/frenemies-john-muir-and-gifford-pinchot

https://www.nps.gov/articles/gifford-pinchot.htm

John Clayton, Natural Rivals: John Muir, Gifford Pinchot, and the Creation of America’s Public Lands.

August 22, 2023August 22, 2023

Episode 83: The Peruvian Peppertree

Admittedly, I was drawn to this tree because I assumed it served as the inspiration for the Peruvian Puff Pepper that was mentioned in Season 3, Episode 2 of Nickelodeon’s “Drake and Josh.” I’m still not sure if it is or not, but that doesn’t lessen this tree’s right to get its own episode. The Peruvian Peppertree is the source of the pink peppercorns we see on grocery store shelves. And this pink pepper has found its way into pre-Incan civilizations, early California missions, and French food fads of the 1980s.
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.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/10.1079/cabicompendium.49028#sec-6

https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/concocting-modern-day-cicha-de-molle/

http://ecotintes.com/en/content/molle-huinan

https://wildflowermeadows.com/2021/07/peppertrees-and-bees/

https://www.monumentaltrees.com/en/usa/california/sandiegocounty/22882_missionsanluisreydefrancia/

https://www.gardenbetty.com/peruvian-pink-peppercorns/

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/are-pink-peppercorns-poisonous

https://www.nps.gov/subjects/travelspanishmissions/spanish-missions-in-the-united-states-cultural-and-historical-significance.htm

August 8, 2023August 8, 2023

Episode 82: The Candlenut

Hawaii’s upcoming Statehood Day has historically been a controversial holiday for its people. With this in mind, I have chosen this occasion to take a closer look at Hawaiian culture through the lens of its state tree, the Candlenut. As the name suggests, this tree has been used as a candle, but also a clock, a bitter cold remedy, tattoo dye, and so much more. Today, we’ll explore how this tree can also serve to enlighten us on the history of Hawaii and her people.

Join my Patreon for bonus content and to help contribute to sustainable organizations (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.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/10.1079/cabicompendium.4124

https://kawaiola.news/moomeheu/moolelo/the-candlenut-tree/

https://www.pandaonline.com/the-kukui-nut-tree-in-hawaii/

https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/us/hawaii-statehood-day

https://www.hawaii-aloha.com/blog/2016/08/19/what-is-statehood-day-in-hawaii-and-how-will-it-impact-my-visit/

https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2019/08/17/years-celebrations-statehood-have-turned-muted-observance/

https://www.nps.gov/hale/learn/historyculture/early-hawaiians.htm

https://247wallst.com/special-report/2018/04/25/each-states-official-tree/

https://www.cdc.gov/islandaffairs/territories-states.html

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2011/04/have-you-seen-disneys-kukui-nut-tree/

July 25, 2023July 25, 2023

Episode 81: The White Poplar

This close relative of the Aspen is not just recognizable by its white bark–the White Poplar is iconic for its multicolored leaves with rough, white undersides. Alongside this unique appearance, this tree’s historic symbolism in Greek and Roman mythology bears multitudinous themes of beauty and death. Let’s dive headfirst into the Underworld and learn about the forests that grow there.

Get hours of bonus content by joining my Patreon at 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