Questions To Ask A Tree

“The wonder is that we can see these trees and not wonder more.”

It’s no surprise that Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote these words. The famous American writer was intimately connected to trees: He planted trees, gathered their fruits, and taught his children the value of learning their names.

Emerson spoke the language of trees, yet was still humble enough to acknowledge that every encounter with trees presented a fresh opportunity to engage in wonder.

Who are you? How old are you? Why are you here? Can you say anything about the underlying rocks? What can you tell us about the broader ecosystem?

In the spirit of Ralph Waldo Emerson, you and I can ask these kinds of questions every time we encounter a tree. When we ask questions, we engage in wonder.

A basic step we can then take to answer those questions is first to learn the names of trees. Fortunately, there are many ways to learn. We can:

Study tree ID field guides
Learn how to use dichotomous keys
Learn all major physical features of trees (buds, bark, leaves, flowers, etc.)
Learn habitat characteristics of trees
Attend tree ID walks
Visit arboretums (where trees are often labeled)
Cultivate friendships with local tree enthusiasts
Teach others what we have learned

If you’re looking for a carefully curated opportunity to improve your tree identification skills, consider enrolling in Trees In All Seasons. This online course teaches you how to identify 100 trees in every season. It’s currently on sale through Monday, December 23.

You can register and learn more about the course here.

Regardless of how you decide to learn, I strongly encourage you to hone your tree identification skills over time. With learning comes wonder, appreciation, love, and the unraveling of at least some of nature’s mysteries.

—Adam Haritan

The tree that built America

“Why do you like trees so much?”

People routinely ask me this question.

It isn’t an easy question to answer, but I try my best to explain what it is about trees that makes me feel good.

I love the food trees offer. I enjoy the medicine trees provide. I like the shade trees cast. And I admire their beauty.

But there’s something else about trees I really appreciate: their ability to tell stories.

As it turns out, trees tell remarkable stories of peace, tragedy, death, and — believe it or not — democracy.

One notable tale that trees tell quite well is the story of America’s birth as a nation. While many people associate this story with icons like the Liberty Bell and the Declaration of Independence, the founding of the United States is also strongly connected — both physically and symbolically — to one particular tree.

Tall, majestic, and extremely useful, this tree has been famously labeled “the tree that built America.”

To learn more about this celebrated tree, check out the brand-new video.

Speaking of trees, I was recently interviewed on Harvesting Nature’s Wild Fish and Game Podcast. In the interview, we discussed how trees can help you become a better hunter and observer of wildlife.

You can listen to the interview here.

Thanks for reading and watching! Do you have any unique reasons for loving trees?

— Adam Haritan

Exploring Wild Ecosystems Is Now Open For Enrollment

Greetings,

I am excited to announce that my newest online course, Exploring Wild Ecosystems, is now open for enrollment!

You can register here.

This course is designed to improve your ecological knowledge by introducing you to fascinating ecosystems — including alvars, barrens, bogs, dunes, fens, glades, savannas, vernal pools, and others!

Learning to recognize ecosystems is an essential step toward understanding how nature works. When we pay attention to the bigger picture, we see beyond individual components. We see connections, we see relationships, and we see where humans fit into the story.

If you want to develop ecological literacy; if you want to be able to read landscapes more effectively; if you want to see how all the components within nature are connected, consider enrolling in Exploring Wild Ecosystems today.

Please note that Exploring Wild Ecosystems is open for one week only — from today until Monday, September 30. After that, registration will be closed. Upon registration, you can immediately access all course content and view the lessons at your own pace.

To learn more about the course, check out this video which gives you an overview of what you can expect.

Thanks for supporting nature education! I hope to see you in there!

—Adam Haritan

Finding Dozens of American Chestnut Trees

I like finding all kinds of trees, but there’s one tree in particular whose presence excites me more than most.

American chestnut.

I’ll drive out of my way to find a decent-sized American chestnut. I might even interrupt a conversation to point out American chestnut.

This behavior may seem strange to some people. I consider it proper etiquette for anyone with a burning passion for North American trees.

I recently explored a remote forest in search of American chestnut trees. By the end of the day, I had found dozens of American chestnuts — one of which was the largest I had ever seen.

Fortunately, I brought my camera along to document the experience. If you’re interested in seeing several beautiful American chestnuts, check out the brand-new video!

Thanks for reading and watching. Have you seen any American chestnuts lately?

— Adam Haritan

How The Passenger Pigeon Changed North American Forests

In 1857, the Ohio State Legislature famously wrote:

The passenger pigeon needs no protection. Wonderfully prolific, having the vast forests of the North as its breeding grounds, traveling hundreds of miles in search of food, it is here today and elsewhere tomorrow…

Forty-five years later, the last wild passenger pigeon was shot and killed in Indiana. In 1914, the last member of the species died in captivity at the Cincinnati Zoo.

The passenger pigeon — a species once numbering in the billions — became extinct in a few short decades.

Barring a miracle in the field of de-extinction, no human alive today will ever see a living passenger pigeon that isn’t a biological novelty. No human alive today will stand in awe as massive flocks of passenger pigeons eclipse the sun and darken the skies.

But whether or not scientists actually figure out how to resurrect the dead, there is something many humans can experience today: the legacy left behind by the passenger pigeon on the North American landscape.

In a brand-new video, I discuss how the passenger pigeon profoundly altered North American forests.

You can watch the video here.

Thanks for reading and watching, and thanks for your continued support!

— Adam Haritan

The Great Hemlock Decline

I can’t say I’m the biggest fan of Shakespeare, but a particular line from Hamlet has always stuck with me.

“There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.”

These words come to mind particularly when I think about the current state of our forests.

Understandably, people are worried about the “unprecedented changes” occurring in woodland ecosystems. Invasive species are taking over, diseases are killing trees, and desirable organisms are failing to regenerate.

At any given moment, the state of our forests can seem rather bleak.

But when we recall the words of William Shakespeare, our perception of this matter shifts — especially when we consider something fascinating about eastern hemlock.

Many people know that an insect is currently threatening the health of eastern hemlock. Nothing about this situation seems good until we understand a critical piece of information: eastern hemlock is no stranger to threats.

In a brand new video, I discuss an important event of the past that may help us better understand modern-day forests.

You can watch the video here.

Thanks for reading and watching, and thanks for your continued support!

— Adam Haritan

Are Oaks in Trouble?

Before I share a brand-new video with you, I’d like to remind you that enrollment for Exploring Wild Ecosystems closes on Monday, June 3.

This online course improves your knowledge of ecology by introducing you to fascinating terrestrial and wetland ecosystems.

If you want to develop ecological literacy and be able to read landscapes more effectively, consider enrolling in Exploring Wild Ecosystems today.

Speaking of reading landscapes more effectively, we can predict future ecosystems based on current observations.

Consider a mature oak forest, for example.

Looking at an oak forest today, we might hope that conditions will remain stable for many years. Any native plant enthusiast will tell you that oak forests are repositories of biodiversity. Without oaks, other organisms that depend on oaks suffer.

But a quick glance at mature oak forests today tells us that significant changes are occurring. These changes, it turns out, aren’t particularly favorable to oaks.

Ecologists are worried about something that’s occurring underneath the towering oaks. This phenomenon has been happening to oak forests for the past 100 years. According to ecologists, it will persist without active management.

In a brand-new video, I address this important ecological issue.

You can watch the video here.

Thanks for reading and watching, and thanks for your continued support!

— Adam Haritan

Having Trouble Identifying Elms? Look for this feature.

Within the foraging community, people often promote rules of thumb.

• “When in doubt, throw it out.”
• “Collect no more than 10% of a particular species in an area to avoid overharvesting.”
• “It’s better to cut mushrooms with a knife than to pull them out of the ground with your hands.”

Generally speaking, I’m not the biggest fan of pithy guidelines such as those listed above. Some of them are helpful, but most require elaboration.

Here’s another example of a commonly promoted rule of thumb: “To find morel mushrooms, look under elm trees.”

I actually like this rule of thumb, but I don’t think it’s helpful for those of us who can’t identify elms. Some of us have trouble recognizing the ridges and furrows of elm bark. Some of us don’t notice the double serration of elm leaves.

Fortunately, a seasonal feature can help us identify elms right now. This feature will disappear in a few weeks, but if you look for it today, you will drastically increase your chances of finding elms.

What is this feature? Check out the brand new video to learn what it is!

And in case you missed the announcement, I will be releasing a new online course in May. Exploring Wild Ecosystems is designed to improve your ecological knowledge by introducing you to fascinating ecosystems — including alvars, barrens, bogs, dunes, fens, glades, savannas, vernal pools, and others!

To receive updates, please consider joining the notification list.

Thanks for reading and watching, and thanks for your continued support!

— Adam Haritan

The Medicine, Magic, and Spirit of Trees: A Druid’s Garden Guide

The Medicine, Magic, and Spirit of Trees: A Druid’s Garden Guide

Old Growth Hemlock — A Marvelous Sight

“Respect your elders.”

I like to think that I’m a decent practitioner of this advice.

I listen to old songs. I read old stories. I admire old monuments. I befriend older people.

But I’m only human. And I live in a culture that worships youth. As a result, I sometimes find it challenging to see the merits of old age.

Fortunately, I’ve discovered a solution: I walk through a forest.

When I walk through a forest, I am reminded by nature to respect my elders.

Old trees are especially good at providing these reminders — not through words but through their presence. Humans tend to feel a certain way when they’re surrounded by ancient trees. Science can’t fully explain why this happens, but it is a wonderful phenomenon.

During a recent walk through a forest, I encountered a few old eastern hemlocks. Fantasies of eternal childhood vanished the moment I saw them. Sensing an opportunity to showcase what I witnessed, I decided to film the experience.

If you’re interested in seeing a few marvelous trees, check out the brand new video!