Hackberry: Very Small Persons’ Climbing Wall

Hackberry: Very Small Persons’ Climbing Wall

The Hackberry tree (Celtis occidentalis) is also known as sugarberry, beaverwood, nettetree, or false elm.  The spreading canopy of the Hackberry has been compared to Einstein’s hair.  It derives its name from the Scottish “hag” (witch) or hagberry tree, and some refer to the drooping bushy branches as “witches’ brooms.” However, rather than creepy, the Hackberry is hard-working and has an uncomplaining nature. This blog will explain why and also reveal a little secret about this corky-barked floodplain friend.

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Environmentalism & White Supremacy

Environmentalism & White Supremacy

The connection between environmentalism and white supremacy hadn’t crossed my mind, and I’m sure that holds true to many of you.  However, a couple of months ago – before George Floyd’s murder and the current national outcry – I stumbled across an astonishing passage in a book that my son gave to me: Charles Mann’s The Wizard and the Prophet (Mann, 2018).

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A Good Walk Unspoiled

A Good Walk Unspoiled

The game of golf has been described as a good walk spoiled, with the quote attributed, likely incorrectly, to Mark Twain.  The implication is that, without having to worry over the trajectory of the little white ball, it would be a most pleasant experience.  The main ingredient of that experience is the landscape through which one traverses.  Our local municipal golf course has been closed to golfers during COVID, but somewhat mysteriously available for walkers, most of whom, present company included, have been seeking places to walk that are not crowded cheek to jowl with others seeking a similar experience.

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Earth Dave 1990

Earth Dave 1990

1990 was the 20th anniversary of Earth Day.  I was a graduate student at Virginia Tech.  I don’t recall how it happened, but I became the campus Earth Day coordinator.  I received so many calls (remember land lines) from people wanting to speak to Dave about Earth Day, that my roommate Alison, who answered many of those calls, starting referring to me as Earth Dave.  “Another call for you, Earth Dave,” she would exclaim, almost cheerfully.

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Nature Wants to Wiggle

Nature Wants to  Wiggle

This past Sunday into Monday, we got quite a deluge.  Over 3 inches of rain fell, accompanied by gusty winds.  On Monday morning as the system was pulling out, I walked out into the street in front of my house.  With all the wind and rain, my neighbor’s cherry tree had let loose many pinkish blossoms that the wind piled up along the street’s curbline into a sort of windrow.  The runoff from the street flowed down the curbline and created a wiggly pattern through the cherry blossom windrow.

Hmm, I thought, it looks just like a meandering stream valley.

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