Doug Still

This Old Tree

About the show

Old trees are awe inspiring links to the past that fire our imagination. What are their stories? Seasoned arborist and amateur historian Doug Still interviews local experts, historians, and community people to celebrate the myths and uncover the real tales. If you're a tree lover, join in to look "beyond the plaque" at heritage trees and the human stories behind them.

Newest episodes

El Árbol del Tule: Oaxaca's Axis Mundi

Oct 20, 2026 1 hr 2 min

In the small town of Santa María del Tule, in the heart of Oaxaca, Mexico, stands a Montezuma Cypress more than 2,000 years old. Its trunk is considered the widest of any tree on Earth. For over a millennium, the Tule Tree has drawn visitors: the Zapotec, Mixe, and Mixtec peoples who revered it, Spanish colonizers, and traders from across Mesoamerica. Today, travelers from around the world make it a tourist destination. In this episode, host Doug Still sits down in the tree's shade with the town's mayor, members of the Tule Tree Committee, and arborists from the Mexican Association of Arboriculture. A local historian shares the town's long story, and we hear the legend of King Kondoy, the hero whose planted staff became the tree. But this giant is about more than size. How is it the guiding light of the community? What is an axis mundi? And what do the people of Tule sacrifice to keep the famous tree alive? Guests Antonio Vásquez Vásquez Historian and Author, Santa María del Tule: Una revisión histórica Santa María del Tule, Mexico Tule Tree Committee, Santa Mariá del Tule Fabián Santiago Bautista, Mayor Roberto Peralta Vásquez, President Abel Ramírez, Chronicler of the Tree Hilda Méndez Ibáñez Jocelyn Soto Mengol Germán Miguel Martin Méndez Omar Jardin Vásquez Víctor Velasco López Arborist and President Asociación Mexicana de Arboricultura (AMA) Aurora Torres Arborist Asociación Mexicana de Arboricultura (AMA) Fernando Aldahir Ramírez Ángeles Oaxacan friend and Tour Guide torchbearermx@gmail.com Oaxaca City, Mexico Reading "Leyenda del Rey Kondoy" or "The Legend of King Kondoy" Traditional (Mixe) Adaptation by Jessica Paolo Martínez José Instituto Nacional de los Pueblos Indígenas Voiceover Artists Marta Martínez, Rhode Island Latino Arts Alejandra Ruelas, Casa Azul Tacquería Ángel Vásquez Gómez Robb Barnard Ed Nardell References Santa María del Tule: Una revisión histórica, Antonio Vásquez Vásquez, 2025. Live Music Banda Indomable de Oaxaca Mariachi mi País Band o...

The Washington Monument Mulberry

Aug 10, 2026 1 hr 2 min

A lone mulberry tree stands beside the Washington Monument. It is curious, unexpected, and impossible to ignore once you notice it. Who planted it? Is it historic? Is it one tree or two? Why is it preserved, when there is no other tree on the immediate grounds? D.C. tree tour guide Sam Nelson chased down the answers, found in a 2014 government report. The author is landscape historian Jonathan Pliska, who also wrote A Garden for the President: A History of the White House Gardens. In celebration of America's 250th birthday, host Doug Still hands the mic to Sam and Jonathan for a conversation that explores the mysteries of this mulberry tree next to our iconic national monument. The story involves several early champions of 19th century horticulture, and the history of the National Mall itself. Guests Sam Nelson Writer, Educator, Naturalist Tree Stories, LLC Jonathan Pliska Author and Landscape Historian A Garden for the President: A History of the White House Gardens References Historic American Landscape Survey (HALS), National Park Service (website) Music "The Dying Poet," Louis Moreau Gottschalk, 1863 Played by Jim Rice Photo credit Sam Nelson Theme Music "This Old Tree," Diccon Lee, www.deeleetree.com Artwork Dahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/home Website thisoldtree.show Transcripts available. Follow on Facebook or Instagram This Old Tree podcast is a sponsored project of the New England Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture. To support This Old Tree and New England ISA, click here. We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~4 or 5 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone’s voice memo app and email to: doug@thisoldtree.net This episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org

Kongeegen, or "The King's Oak"

Jul 13, 2026 59 min

Kongeegen, or the 1,500 year old “King’s Oak,” is deep inside a forest called Jægerspris Nordskov in Denmark. The tree is named after 19th century King Frederik VII, who owned a nearby castle with his wife, the Countess Danner. It is a national treasure and one of northern Europe’s oldest living oak trees. Getting there meant a two-mile hike through the woods with guests Anders Jensen of the Danish Tree Association and forest historian Helle Serup of The Green Museum. They tell the biological story of Kongeegen, and how Denmark sees its forests. But there is also a love story - a tangled affair between the unconventional Frederik, the Countess Danner (aka Louise Rasmussen), and a wealthy newspaper publisher named Carl Berling. The Countess's own love letters embellish this true story from her point of view - scandal, romance, and all - and how it led them to seek shelter from the rain under this ancient oak. Guests Helle Serup Curator, Det Grønne Museum (The Green Museum) Auning, Denmark Anders Jensen Vice Chairman Dansk Træplejeforening (The Danish Tree Care Association) Reading "Beneath Kongeegen" by Doug Still and Ida Zecco, read by Ida Zecco and Martha Douglas-Osmundson (Louise Rasmussen's letters) References "Din hengivnes Louise": Louise Rasmussens breve til Carl Berling og kronprins/kong Frederik VII, 1844-1850." Ved Pernille Arenfeldt og Pernille Hasselsteen. Kong Frederik VII's Stiftelse Paa Jægerspris, Forlaget Fremad, Music "La Sylphide, Music for the Bournonville ballet" by Herman Severin Løvenskiold. Royal Danish Orchestra, Chandos Records, 1991. Special thanks Dansk Træplejeforening Robb Barnard Ed Nardell Theme Music "This Old Tree," Diccon Lee, www.deeleetree.com Artwork Dahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/home Website thisoldtree.show Transcripts available. Follow on Facebook or Instagram This Old Tree podcast is a sponsored project of the New England Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture. To support This Old Tree and New England I...

Similar podcasts

Tooth & Claw: True Stories of Animal Attacks Wes Larson, Jeff Larson, Mike Smith | Daylight Media

Bigfoot Society Jeremiah Byron

The Wild with Chris Morgan KUOW News and Information

Bigfoot Terror in the Woods Sightings and Encounters W.J. Sheehan

SASQUATCH THEORY SASQUATCH THEORY

Natural Causes Cool Zone Media & iHeartPodcasts

Bigfoot Eyewitness Radio Vic Cundiff

Wild Times: Wildlife Education Wildlife Educator - Forrest Galante

All episodes

El Árbol del Tule: Oaxaca's Axis Mundi

Oct 20, 2026 1 hr 2 min

The Washington Monument Mulberry

Aug 10, 2026 1 hr 2 min

Kongeegen, or "The King's Oak"

Jul 13, 2026 59 min

Sa Melabrina and Sardinia's Monumental Trees

May 5, 2026 1 hr 2 min

Sa Melabrina is a Downy Oak tree the size of a small church, draped in moss and ferns. Her ancient arms spread wide in the surrounding forest near Illorai, Sardinia. She's the oldest and largest of her kind in all of Europe. And she's been standing here in these mountains for nine centuries. What she symbolizes is even greater than her beauty. The town’s mayor organized a remarkable conference drawing scientists, conservationists, and community leaders from across Sardinia and beyond, all united around a single idea: that Sardinia's ancient trees, its oldest living landmarks, could form a network worth protecting, visiting, and fighting for. There is something else at stake. Sardinia's small towns are quietly shrinking. Depopulation is hollowing out villages that have survived for millennia. Saving these old trees is vital, but Sardinia's leaders ask a new type of question: Can Sa Melabrina and Sardinia’s monumental trees save its small towns? Guests Gianluca Grande, Mayor Illorai, Sardinia Dr. Gianluigi Bacchetta Professor, Department of Life and Environmental Sciences Director, Centre for the Conservation of Biodiversity and Germplasm Bank of Sardinia University of Cagliari, Sardinia Pina Muras Resident of Illorai, Sardinia Carlo Poddi Arborist, Sassari, Sardinia Readings "Su chercu pius bellu" (The Most Beautiful Oak) by Ignazio Camarda - read by Fulgenzio Piras "The Sa Melabrina Oak" by Graziano Nudda Quote by T.S. Eliot from "The Little Gidding" Voiceover Readers Manuela Buonanno (Pina Muras) Jeff Taliaferro (Graziano Nudda reading) Music Sa Melabrina Choir Conference hospitality provided by Proloco Oak Species of Sardinia - Quercus pubescens group Quercus dalechampii (Downy Oak) Quercus ichnusae Quercus congesta Quercus virgiliana Other Oak species in Sardinia Quercus ilex (Holm Oak) Quercus suber (Cork Oak) Quercus calliprinos Quercus morisi Theme Music "This Old Tree," Diccon Lee, www.deeleetree.com Artwork Dahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/home Website thiso...

On Defense: Estonia's Stadium Oak

Dec 31, 2025 1 hr 4 min

In the small Estonian town of Orissaare, football players dribble around a 150-year-old oak tree standing impossibly in the middle of their soccer field or "stadium." What seems like a quirky local oddity became a symbol of national pride when this tree won the 2015 European Tree of the Year, beating much larger countries like Hungary, Spain, and the UK. How did an unknown Estonian oak outcompete all of Europe? The answer involves brilliant PR, ancient folklore, a fierce independence forged by centuries of foreign invasion, and a profound connection to forests rooted in animism. Could a tree resist the Soviets? Learn about its inspiring legend that captured the attention of tree-lovers around the world. Guests Aliide Naylor Journalist and Author London, UK The Shadow in the East: Vladimir Putin and the New Baltic Front aliidenaylor.com Heiki Hanso Arborist Orissaare, Estonia Andla Rüütel Manager, Orissaare Sports Hall Orissaare, Estonia Voiceover Reading for Andla Rüütel Martha Douglas-Osmundson LinkedIn Profile Songs (in order) "Saaremaa valss," Georg Ots "Ma vaatan paadist kiikriga," Boris Lehtlaan "Metsavendade laul (sõnadega) - Forest Brothers' Song," Untsakad "Isegi unes," Stig Rästa (permission from FAAR Music) Other References "The Favours of the Sacred Tree," Estonian Folk Tales: the Heavenly Wedding, Piret Paar and Anne Turnpu, authors, 2005. Silence of the Gods: The Untold History of Europe's Last Pagan Peoples, Francis Young, 2025. European Tree of the Year, Environmental Partnership Association Theme Music "This Old Tree," Diccon Lee, www.deeleetree.com Artwork Dahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/home Website thisoldtree.show Transcripts available. Follow on Facebook or Instagram This Old Tree podcast is a sponsored project of the New England Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture. To support This Old Tree and New England ISA, click here. We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~4 or 5 minute audio story for cons...

Arborists Live: Our Tree Stories

Nov 27, 2025 1 hr 0 min

What happens when six arborists come down from the trees to step behind the mic? Find out by listening to this special episode of stories by tree professionals told LIVE in front of an audience at the annual conference of the New England Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture. Where does the adrenaline come from? What barriers have been climbed? What drives them, ropes and harness in hand? Hear what arborists say about defining moments in their careers, their struggles, and what they love about their profession. Guests Heidi Shingleton Arborist Dirigo Tree Service Freeport, ME David Anderson Arborist Mayer Tree Service Essex, MA June Moulis Student, Urban Forestry and Arboriculture Concentration UMASS Amherst Tom Marino Certified Arborist SavATree Norwalk, CT Lindsay Watkins Strafford County Forester UNH Cooperative Extension Durham, NH Rich Cartier Northeast Territory Manager Rainbow Ecoscience Milford, MA Stories told on location at "The Canopy Connection: 2025 New England Chapter ISA Annual Conference and Trade Show," Southbridge, MA, October 7, 2025. Music "Not Long Now," Falconer Theme Music "This Old Tree," Diccon Lee, www.deeleetree.com Artwork Dahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/home Website thisoldtree.show Transcripts available. Follow on Facebook or Instagram This Old Tree podcast is a sponsored project of the New England Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture. To support This Old Tree and New England ISA, click here. We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~4 or 5 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone’s voice memo app and email to: doug@thisoldtree.net This episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org

The General Sherman Tree: First Encounters

Oct 27, 2025 1 hr 8 min

High up in California's Sierra Nevada mountains stands the largest tree on earth by volume - the General Sherman Tree. The famous giant sequoia has captivated millions of visitors, but few know the rich tapestry of stories woven around its massive trunk. Join us as we explore the “Giant Forest” of Sequoia National Park with former park ranger and author William C. Tweed. From the indigenous Monache and Yokuts who first walked among these giants, to ambitious Euro-American explorers like John Muir, to a Black Army Captain who became the parks first true manager, discover how "first encounters" with giant sequoias become life altering events. What evolutionary secrets allow sequoias to get so big? Why do frequent fires help them to survive? And what is "sequoia time?" The General Sherman tree and its mates have changed how we view the natural world and our place within it. Guest William C. Tweed Author and Retired Chief Naturalist Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, CA King Sequoia Challenge of the Big Trees: The History of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks (co-author with Lary M. Dilsaver) Readers Josh Abrams (Hale Tharp) Ewen Eadie (John Muir) Jeff Taliaferro (Capt. Charles Young) Music Justin Peters Tree Visitor Interview Tom Allen Emmy Riley Alex Allen Organizations That Support Giant Sequoias National Park Service, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Giant Sequoias Land Coalition Sequoia Parks Conservancy Save the Redwoods League Ancient Forest Society Tule River Tribe of California Theme Music "This Old Tree," Diccon Lee, www.deeleetree.com Artwork Dahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/home Website thisoldtree.show Transcripts available. Follow on Facebook or Instagram This Old Tree podcast is a sponsored project of the New England Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture. To support This Old Tree and New England ISA, click here. We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~4 or 5 minute audio story for considerat...

S'Ozzastru and the Ancient Olive Trees of Sardinia

Aug 24, 2025 1 hr 5 min

Some trees are old — and then there's S’Ozzastru. Nestled near the village of Luras on the island of Sardinia, this ancient olive tree has stood for nearly 4,000 years. Also known as "The Great Patriarch" or "The Patriarch of Nature," the bronze age tree is a living witness to the rise and fall of civilizations. How has it endured for millennia? Who, across the centuries, has found shelter beneath its branches? And will the millennial olive trees of Sardinia continue to survive? Join us as we travel to the heart of the Mediterranean in search of secrets to one of the world’s oldest living trees. 🌿 Guests Anna Maria Corda Tour Guide, Olivastri di Millenari di Luras Luras, Sardinia, Italy Marco Campus Agronomist, AGRIS Progetto Olivi Montiferru Oristano, Sardinia Fabio Piras Agronomist, AGRIS Progetto Olivi Montiferru Oristano, Sardinia Gianluigi Pili Agronomist, AGRIS Progetto Olivi Montiferru Oristano, Sardinia Emanuele Cauli Agronomist, AGRIS Progetto Olivi Montiferru Oristano, Sardinia Music Launeddas - Luigi Lai Cantu a tenore vocals - Su Dillu Songs from "S'arreppicu," Luigi Lai Ripsosa pippiu Fiorassiu in la (danza) Goccius a Santu Idiu S'arrepicu Reading Elias Portolu by Grazia Deledda Translated by Kevan Houser Guest Reader Manuela Buonanno Other References International Olive Council website "Why the Mediterranean is a Climate Change Hotspot," MIT News Special thanks to Ed Nardell Cristiana and Valerio, B&B Archè Theme Music "This Old Tree," Diccon Lee, www.deeleetree.com Artwork Dahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/home Website thisoldtree.show Transcripts available. Follow on Facebook or Instagram This Old Tree podcast is a sponsored project of the New England Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture. To support This Old Tree and New England ISA, click here. We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~4 or 5 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old...

The Ginkgo at Gu Guanyin Buddhist Temple

May 19, 2025 1 hr 4 min

Have you seen those breathtaking aerial photos of a solitary ginkgo tree in a courtyard, its leaves creating a perfect golden carpet of fallen leaves? This isn't just any tree—it's a 1,400-year-old living witness to history, standing tall within the walls of China's Gu Guanyin Buddhist Temple. While its stunning autumn transformation goes viral online each year, the story behind this magnificent being remains largely unknown to Western audiences. Why was this particular tree planted at this particular temple? Could it really have been placed there by Emperor Taizong himself, one of China's most celebrated rulers? Why are ginkgo trees so special? Join us as we unravel the mysteries of this famous ginkgo tree and explore its remarkable connection to the golden age of the Tang Dynasty. Guests Professor Ruihong Di Northwest University Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China Peter Del Tredici Urban Ecologist and Botanist Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University Boston, MA www.peterdeltredici.com Wild Urban Plants of the Northeast: A Field Guide Reader Wiley Wang Machine Intelligence Engineer Palm Springs, CA "Traditional Folk Tale of Gu Guanyin Temple" edited by Doug Still Voiceover Reading for Ruihong Di Martha Douglas-Osmundson LinkedIn Profile Music "Farewell at the Yangguan Pass," traditional, Tang Dynasty Xiao-zhong Wu soloist People's Association Chinese Orchestra 1992 Yellow River Other References The Ruler's Guide: China's Greatest Emperor and His Timeless Secrets of Success, Chinghua Tang, Scribner, 2017. Ginkgo: The Tree That Time Forgot, Peter Crane, Yale University Press, 2013. Photo Credit FlyOverChina, Xinhua News Agency Theme Music "This Old Tree," Diccon Lee, www.deeleetree.com Artwork Dahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/home Website thisoldtree.show Transcripts available. Follow on Facebook or Instagram This Old Tree podcast is a sponsored project of the New England Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture. To support This Old Tree and New England ISA, cl...

Tree Story Shorts IV

Feb 24, 2025 45 min

Welcome to the fourth edition of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, where guests get to tell their own tree stories! Salacious pepper trees, historic oaks, a tree named after a Marvel character, a beech tree's farewell at a college reunion, big tree hunters, an old growth tulip poplar in Queens, a neighborhood ash tree in Amsterdam, and the largest tree at Kew Gardens - this episode has it all. Listen to what people have to say about the trees that inspire them. Guests Stephanie Carrie Screenwriter, Sketch Writer, Comedian Los Angeles, CA Trees of LA @treesofla (Instagram) https://www.stephaniecarrie.me/ Denise Lewis Masters Student, Urban Forestry UMASS Amherst Amherst, MA Devi Lakhia Student, The Learning Center Goa, India Fred Breglia Executive Director, The Landis Arboretum Ancient Forests and Champion Trees (Facebook) Big Tree Hunters (Instagram) Ellen Cliggott Freelance Content Marketing Writer and Editor LinkedIn Profile Barnstable, MA Magali Duzant Artist and Writer Website A Tree Grows in Queens Nadina Galle Ecological Engineer, Technologist, Writer, Speaker Website The Nature of Our Cities The Netherlands and Canada Mark Johnston Arborist, Urban Forester, Consultant, Professor, Author Website Planting Ideas in the Urban Forest: Autobiography of a Tree Expert Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK Theme Music "This Old Tree," Diccon Lee, www.deeleetree.com Artwork Dahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/home Website thisoldtree.show Transcripts available. Follow on Facebook or Instagram This Old Tree podcast is a sponsored project of the New England Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture. To support This Old Tree and New England ISA, click here. We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~4 or 5 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone’s voice memo app and email to: doug@thisoldtree.net This episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a c...

India's Kabirvad Banyan Tree

Feb 5, 2025 1 hr 20 min

Meet Kabirvad, a 500 yr-old, 4 acre banyan tree in the heart of Gujarat, India. The spectacular tree is a national treasure associated with Saint Kabir, a 15th century mystic poet known for his timeless poetry. He challenged institutions, religions and social convention. Who was he, and how is his legend tied to a banyan tree? Journey to India to learn about Kabirvad. In understanding the tree, you may find the essence of Kabir himself. Guests Prof. Srinivas Reddy Guest Professor, Humanities Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar, India Author, Illuminating Worlds: An Anthology of Classical Indian Literature Sankalpana Dr. Linda Hess Professor Emerita, Stanford University Linda-Hess.com Bodies of Song: Kabir Oral Traditions and Performative Worlds in North India Ronak Kevadiya Range Forest Officer Forest and Environment Office, Govt. of Gujarat Bharuch, India Dr. Vikrant Jain Professor, Earth Sciences Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar, India Short Kabir Interviews Abhia Lakhia Jayraj Bhatt Anuja Bhatt Dr. Sudhanshu Sharma Kabeer Jesusa Kabir Poems Reader Gairik Sachdeva Cambridge, MA Lineages of Innovations (Substack) Kabir poems translated and provided by Linda Hess Music Raga Ahiri, performed by Srinivas Reddy (sitar), Rajiv Bhatt (tabla) and Sameer Sahasrabuddhe (tabla) Other References Burn Down Your House: Provocations from Kabir, Shabnam Virmani Gods, Wasps and Stranglers: The Secret History and Redemptive Future of Fig Trees, Michael Shanahan Additional thanks to Dr. Paula Richman and Dr. Michael Fisher for sharing their knowledge and resources on India. Lisa Rodriguez at Osco Pharmacy, for providing all of the vaccinations I needed for my trip! Theme Music "This Old Tree," Diccon Lee, www.deeleetree.com Artwork Dahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/home Website thisoldtree.show Transcripts available. Follow on Facebook or Instagram This Old Tree podcast is a sponsored project of the New England Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture....

London's Charlton House Mulberry

Nov 18, 2024 1 hr 1 min

Did you know the British are mad about mulberries? A 415 yr-old black mulberry tree stands at Charlton House & Gardens, the oldest specimen in London and highly beloved. Its story involves King James I and a courtier named Sir Adam Newton, the tutor to the King's eldest son Henry. It also involves a government decree gone awry. Guests Peter Coles Author, Mulberry Morus Londinium Dr. Stella Butler Trustee, Royal Greenwich Heritage Trust Chair, Charlton & Blackheath Amateur Horticultural Society Jason Sylvan Head Gardener, Charlton House & Gardens Kathy Aitken Volunteer, Charlton & Blackheath Amateur Horticultural Society Music performed by the Renaissonics "Coockow As I Me Walked," John Baldwin "The Satyrs' Masque," Robert Johnson (from Oberon) "Full Fathom Five," Robert Johnson "Strike It Up Tabor," Thomas Weelkes Theme Music "This Old Tree," Diccon Lee, www.deeleetree.com Artwork Dahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/home Website thisoldtree.show Transcripts available. Follow on Facebook or Instagram This Old Tree podcast is a sponsored project of the New England Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture. To support This Old Tree and New England ISA, click here. We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~4 or 5 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone’s voice memo app and email to: doug@thisoldtree.net This episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org

Saving Seeds: Bartram's Franklin Tree

Oct 7, 2024 1 hr 2 min

John Bartram was a Quaker farmer near Philadelphia in the mid 18th century. So how did he become North America's first great botanist? And how did he and his son William find themselves in the wilds of southeastern Georgia, fighting off rain, hunger and mosquitos, in order to find the rare and beautiful Franklin Tree (Franklinia alatamaha)? Come hear the story about why this tree at Bartram's Garden symbolizes the spirit of science and discovery. Guest Tom Reber Director of Landscape and Facilities Bartram's Garden Philadelphia, PA Readers Nigel Holmes Mike Savard Mike Sweney Josh Abrams Harpsichord Music performed by Miyuke Tsurutani "The Saint Catherine," John Barrett "Saraband," John Barrett "Hornpipe," Henry Purcell "Ground," John Blow References "The Life and Travels of John Bartram: From Lake Ontario to the River St. John," by Edmund Berkeley and Dorothy Smith Berkeley. University Press of Florida, 1982. "The Correspondence of John Bartram, 1734 - 1777," edited by Edmund Berkeley and Dorothy Smith Berkeley. University Press of Florida, 1992. "Franklinia alatamaha, A History of That 'Very Curious' Shrub," by Joel Fry. Bartram's Broadside, Winter 2000. Theme Music "This Old Tree," Diccon Lee, www.deeleetree.com Artwork Dahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/home Website thisoldtree.show Transcripts available. Follow on Facebook or Instagram This Old Tree podcast is a sponsored project of the New England Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture. To support This Old Tree and New England ISA, click here. We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~4 or 5 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone’s voice memo app and email to: doug@thisoldtree.net This episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org

The Tree That Owns Itself

Apr 28, 2024 1 hr 1 min

Legend has it that Col. William H. Jackson of Athens, Georgia loved his old white oak tree very much. So much, that he created a deed for the tree and the land immediately surrounding it, giving ownership unto itself. Could it be possible? Who owns a tree? The answers aren't always as simple as they may appear. Guests Mateo Fennell Community Forestry Coordinator Athens-Clarke County Unified Government Athens, GA https://www.accgov.com/274/Community-Forestry James Komen Consulting Arborist and Attorney Los Angeles, CA https://www.jameskomen.com/ Pat McAlexander Author, Retired Professor, and Neighbor of The Tree That Owns Itself University of Georgia Athens, GA Music "It's Fun Being a Cat," Ziv Grinberg Theme Music "This Old Tree," Diccon Lee, www.deeleetree.com Artwork Dahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/home Website thisoldtree.show Transcripts available. Follow on Facebook or Instagram This Old Tree podcast is a sponsored project of the New England Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture. To support This Old Tree and New England ISA, click here. We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~4 or 5 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone’s voice memo app and email to: doug@thisoldtree.net This episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org

The Mariner and the Mulberry

Feb 28, 2024 55 min

A large old mulberry tree at Truro Vineyards on Cape Cod comes with a legend. A sea captain brought it back from the South Pacific and planted it for his young wife. Or his girlfriend. Or someone named Amelia. Is this story true? Who was the captain, and what became of him? Come along to open dusty books, unfurl old maps, and decide what you think. Guests Kristen Roberts Owner Truro Vineyards Truro, MA Ken MacPhee Arborist Representative Bartlett Tree Experts Orleans, MA Janice Pelosi Manager Truro Historical Society Truro, MA Norman Pope Volunteer Truro Historical Society Truro, MA Peter Coles Author of Mulberry Morus londinium London, UK Consulting Editor David Still II Recorder Music David Bor and Kimberly Wass "The Wellerman" "Sleep Soond I da Mornin'" "Leave Her Johnny" Other Music The Hill Top Trio "Spanish Ladies" Theme Music "This Old Tree," Diccon Lee, www.deeleetree.com Artwork Dahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/home Website thisoldtree.show Transcripts available. Follow on Facebook or Instagram This Old Tree podcast is a sponsored project of the New England Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture. To support This Old Tree and New England ISA, click here. We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~4 or 5 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone’s voice memo app and email to: doug@thisoldtree.net This episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org

Tree Story Shorts III

Jan 8, 2024 35 min

Here's the third edition of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, where guests get to tell their own tree stories! Charles Darwin, bride and groom trees, a massive American elm in Illinois, Al Capone, original tree-inspired music, a tree used for meetings at an army base, a moving story from war-torn Ukraine - this episode has it all. Listen to what people have to say about the trees that inspire them. Guests Rob McBride The Tree Hunter Ellesmere, Shropshire, U.K. Instagram Georgia Barnhill Amherst Historical Society Amherst, MA Joe Hansen The Municipal Arborist Podcast Instagram Grayson Bo Guthrie Baltimore Tree Keeper Baltimore, MD Instagram Kamala Sankaram Composer and Singer KamalaSankaram.com Lawarren Patterson Retired Army Major General San Antonio, TX Bio Olena Kozak Ukrainian Ecological Club - Green Wave Kyiv, Ukraine Theme Music "This Old Tree," Diccon Lee, www.deeleetree.com Artwork Dahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/home Website thisoldtree.show Transcripts available. Follow on Facebook or Instagram This Old Tree podcast is a sponsored project of the New England Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture. To support This Old Tree and New England ISA, click here. We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~4 or 5 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone’s voice memo app and email to: doug@thisoldtree.net This episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org

Europe's 2023 Tree of the Year: The Fabrykant Oak

Dec 13, 2023 1 hr 1 min

The Fabrykant Oak, translated as the "Factory Owner's Oak," received 45,000 votes to become Europe's Tree of the Year. Located in Łódź, it captures the hearts of people in its home country of Poland and around the world. Full of personality and stunningly beautiful, the story of this Quercus robur strikes deep into the city's culture and history. How does an old tree overcome the past to become a symbol of rebirth and a brighter future? Guests Adam Golub Project Manager and Brussels Representative European Tree of the Year Environmental Partnership Association treeoftheyear.org Brussels, Belgium Przemek Bartos Ecologist and Blogger Przyroda dla Sosnowca The Oak Fabrykant - Video Sosnowiec, Poland Jacek Boźek Director, Klub Gaja Ecological and Cultural Association klubgaja.pl Wilkowice, Poland Anna Wierzbicka Director of Environmental Management Division City of Łódź Poland Green Bond Framework Maria Duszynska McCauley Centerville, MA, USA Consulting Editor David Still II Music Frédéric Chopin - to be updated Photo Credit Jakub Kubka Theme Music "This Old Tree," Diccon Lee, www.deeleetree.com Artwork Dahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/home Website thisoldtree.show Transcripts available. Follow on Facebook or Instagram This Old Tree podcast is a sponsored project of the New England Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture. To support This Old Tree and New England ISA, click here. We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~4 or 5 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone’s voice memo app and email to: doug@thisoldtree.net This episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org

The Emancipation Oak

Nov 13, 2023 1 hr 9 min

A 300 yr-old Live Oak tree on the campus of Hampton University in Virginia stuns visitors with its strength and beauty. It’s also an enduring symbol of a watershed moment in American history - the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation during the Civil War, which freed enslaved people in the rebel states. How could a tree play a role in that momentous event, at least locally? What did emancipation truly mean to African-Americans in 1863? How does the tree still inspire the hearts and imagination of people today? Guests Abra Lee Garden Historian, Writer, Lecturer conquerthesoil.com Director of Horticulture, Oakland Cemetery Atlanta, GA Prof. Robert Watson Assistant Professor of History Hampton University Hampton, VA Tim Nuckols Owner, Nuckols Tree Care Virginia Beach, VA Consulting Editor Josh Abrams Music "Steal Away" - Wallace Willis Arranged by Roland Carter Sung by the Winston-Salem State University Choir Photo Credit Hampton University Theme Music "This Old Tree," Diccon Lee, www.deeleetree.com Artwork Dahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/home Website thisoldtree.show Transcripts available. Follow on Facebook or Instagram This Old Tree podcast is a sponsored project of the New England Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture. To support This Old Tree and New England ISA, click here. We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~4 or 5 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone’s voice memo app and email to: doug@thisoldtree.net This episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org

The Autograph Tree

Oct 12, 2023 1 hr 2 min

A stunning copper beech tree in Ireland’s County Galway attracts tourists from around the world. Lady Gregory was its owner, and she drew legendary writers of her day to her house and garden at Coole Park - William Butler Yeats, George Bernard Shaw, and others. If they were lucky, they were allowed to etch their names into the bark of what’s now known as the Autograph Tree. Learn the full story steeped in Irish literary history. Guests Jenni McGuire Head Guide, Coole Park Nature Reserve Gort, County Galway, Ireland Margaux Pierrel Conservation Ranger, Coole Park Nature Reserve Gort, County Galway, Ireland Dr. James Pethica Senior Lecturer in English and Theatre, Williams College Williamstown, MA, USA Dr. Anna Pilz Independent Researcher Academic Developer & Trainer, University of Edinburgh Edinburgh, Scotland Consulting Editor David Still, II Music "Cailleach An Airgid" - traditional Arranged by Katharina Baker Performed by Sonic Strings from Coole Music & Arts in Gort, County Galway Soloist - Lilian Owens See Sonic Strings performing the piece on Inis Mór on YouTube here Theme Music "This Old Tree," Diccon Lee, www.deeleetree.com Artwork Dahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/home Website thisoldtree.show Transcripts available. Follow on Facebook or Instagram This Old Tree podcast is a sponsored project of the New England Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture. To support This Old Tree and New England ISA, click here. We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~4 or 5 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone’s voice memo app and email to: doug@thisoldtree.net This episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org

Trees in Song: Season 1 Finale

Sep 8, 2023 57 min

This season 1 recap features thematic highlights from the first 18 episodes, Doug's favorite songs about trees, and an interview with Dee Lee, arborist and songwriter! Featured Songs and Artists Redwood Tree, Van Morrison Saint Dominick's Preview, 1972 Warner Bros, Inc. English Trees, Crowded House Time on Earth, 2007 Parlophone & ATO Records Trees, Louis Armstrong & George Jenkins and His Orchestra (Lyrics from Trees by Joyce Kilmer) 1954 Big Yellow Taxi, Joni Mitchell Ladies of the Canyon, 1970 Reprise Records, Crazy Crow Music King of Trees, Yusuf/Cat Stevens Buddha and the Chocolate Box, 1974 A&M Records, Firecat Music Ld. Boys in the Trees, Carly Simon Boys in the Trees, 1978 Elektra Records; C'est Music; Universal Music Corp. Mango Tree (Feat. Sara Bareilles), Zac Brown Band Jekyll + Hyde, 2015 Writers: Zac Brown, Anna Elizabeth Harwood, and Niko Moon Big Machine Records; Republic; Bettimusic It’s the Roots, Dee Lee This Old Tree, Dee Lee DeeLeeTree.com Consulting Editor David Still II Theme Music "This Old Tree," Diccon Lee, www.deeleetree.com Artwork Dahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/home Website thisoldtree.show Transcripts available. Follow on Facebook or Instagram This Old Tree podcast is a sponsored project of the New England Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture. To support This Old Tree and New England ISA, click here. We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~4 or 5 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone’s voice memo app and email to: doug@thisoldtree.net This episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org

Texas Shade: The Founders' Oak

Aug 3, 2023 59 min

The Founders' Oak in New Braunfels is a "Famous Tree of Texas." The 300 yr-old live oak has given shelter to a Spanish Mission, a German Prince who brought thousands of settlers, old Texas families that date back to the Alamo, and the Comanche Nation. Its cultural history is rich, and includes a new designation as a "Comanche Marker Tree." What is it about this tree's history that mirrors the founding of Texas itself? Co-Host Emily King Urban Forester, Community Tree Preservation Division City of Austin, TX Austin's Community Tree Report Austin's Tree Canopy Guests Tim Barker President, Friends for the Preservation of Historic Landa Park New Braunfels, TX Kelly Eby Urban Forester, Community Forestry Program City of San Marcos, TX Steve Houser Owner and President, Arborilogical Services Chairperson, Indian Marker Tree Committee Texas Historic Tree Coalition Wylie, TX Jimmy Arterberry Cultural Resource/Environmental Consultant Former Tribal Administrator, Comanche Nation Medicine Park, OK Books New Braunfels Historic Landa Park: Its Springs and Its People Famous Trees of Texas Comanche Marker Trees of Texas Featured songs by Jimmy Irby (Published by ...And More Bears, Vollersode, Germany) One Cup of Coffee and a Cigarette Don't Count Your Chickens I'm So Disgusted I've Got the Blues for Texas Consulting Editor David Still II Cover Photo Steve Houser Theme Music "This Old Tree," Diccon Lee, www.deeleetree.com Artwork Dahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/home Website thisoldtree.show Transcripts available. Follow on Facebook or Instagram This Old Tree podcast is a sponsored project of the New England Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture. To support This Old Tree and New England ISA, click here. We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~4 or 5 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone’s voice memo app and email to: doug@thisoldtree....

Preservation is Progress: The Brontë Oak

Jul 5, 2023 55 min

The Brontë Oak is a massive white oak tree in Oakville, Ontario that has been threatened by every type of construction project imaginable. Logging, overhead power lines, a regional water conduit, highway expansion, you name it. But in the face of multi-billion dollar corporations, it still stands thanks to the collective efforts of a persuasive neighbor, two savvy arborists, an 87 yr-old schoolteacher, a tuned-in Town Councilor, and a favorite Canadian folk rock singer. Guests John McNeil Consulting Urban Forester McNeil Urban Forestry, Inc. Burlington , Ontario LinkedIn Pete Williams Consulting Forester Williams & Associates Forestry Consulting Rockwood, Ontario http://forestar.ca/ Allan Elgar Regional and Town Councilor Oakville, Ontario https://www.oakville.ca/town-hall/mayor-council-administration/mayor-council/councillor-allan-elgar/ Sarah Harmer Singer/Songwriter https://sarahharmer.com/ Featured songs by Sarah Harmer Pendulums Tether Squeaking Voices The Ring Consulting Editor David Still II Audio Editor Marta Abrams Cover artwork Betty Goodfellow, artist Collection of Sarah Harmer Theme Music "This Old Tree," Diccon Lee, www.deeleetree.com Artwork Dahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/home Website thisoldtree.show Transcripts available. Follow on Facebook or Instagram This Old Tree podcast is a sponsored project of the New England Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture. To support This Old Tree and New England ISA, click here. We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~4 or 5 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone’s voice memo app and email to: doug@thisoldtree.net This episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org

The Moses Cleaveland Trees

May 27, 2023 54 min

In 1946, 153 "Moses Cleaveland Trees" were chosen as landmark trees to represent the City of Cleveland's 150-yr anniversary. Not only did they harken back to the pre-settlement forest - they were in fact part of it. The existence of each one became hazy over time, until a group organized by the City and the Early Settlers Association set out to find them again. Do they still survive? Guests Dr. Roy Larick Retired Archaeologist Owner of Bluestone Conservation Vice Chair of the Euclid Shade Tree Commission Member of the Early Settlers Association of the Western Reserve https://www.earlysettlers.org/ Margeaux Apple Collections Coordinator Cambridge University Botanic Garden https://www.botanic.cam.ac.uk/ Dr. Michael Melampy Professor Emeritus Baldwin Wallace University https://www.bw.edu/ Consulting Editor David Still II Theme Music "This Old Tree," Diccon Lee, www.deeleetree.com Artwork Dahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/home Website thisoldtree.show Transcripts available. Follow on Facebook or Instagram This Old Tree podcast is a sponsored project of the New England Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture. To support This Old Tree and New England ISA, click here. We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~4 or 5 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone’s voice memo app and email to: doug@thisoldtree.net This episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org

The Imperial Pine Bonsai

Apr 27, 2023 59 min

The stately "Imperial Pine" is the only bonsai ever to leave the Japanese Emperor's collection, and it resides at the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum at the U.S. National Arboretum in Washington, DC. Listen to the behind-the-scenes story about how it got there during a key moment in diplomatic history between Japan and the United States. Guests Kathleen Emerson-Dell Curator of Exhibitions National Bonsai & Penjing Museum U.S. National Arboretum www.usna.usda.gov Michael James Curator National Bonsai & Penjing Museum U.S. National Arboretum www.usna.usda.gov Consulting Editor David Still II Theme Music "This Old Tree," Diccon Lee, www.deeleetree.com Artwork Dahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/home Website thisoldtree.show Transcripts available. Follow on Facebook or Instagram This Old Tree podcast is a sponsored project of the New England Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture. To support This Old Tree and New England ISA, click here. We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~4 or 5 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone’s voice memo app and email to: doug@thisoldtree.net This episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org

The Katsura at Dumbarton Oaks

Apr 11, 2023 47 min

Meet the charming old katsura tree in Beatrix Farrand’s famous garden at Dumbarton Oaks. It might be the oldest katsura in North America, or maybe not, but its origins relate to the burgeoning interest in Japanese trees and plants in the second half of the 19th century when Japan opened up to the world. Listen in, as the tree receives some traditional care from Japanese Master Gardener Kurato Fujimoto. Guests Ron Henderson Founding Principal Lirio Landscape Architecture Professor of Landscape Architecture + Urbanism Illinois Institute of Technology Kurato Fujimoto Master Gardener Kenroku-en Garden Johann (Hans) Friedl Masters Student of Landscape Architecture and Urbanism Illinois Institute of Technology www.linkedin.com/in/johann-friedl Jonathan Kavalier Director of Gardens and Grounds Dumbarton Oaks Abner Aldarondo Humanities Fellow Dumbarton Oaks Consulting Editor David Still II Theme Music "This Old Tree," Diccon Lee, www.deeleetree.com Artwork Dahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/home Website thisoldtree.show Transcripts available. Follow on Facebook or Instagram This Old Tree podcast is a sponsored project of the New England Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture. To support This Old Tree and New England ISA, click here. We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~4 or 5 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone’s voice memo app and email to: doug@thisoldtree.net This episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org

Tree Story Shorts II

Mar 26, 2023 49 min

This is the second edition of Tree Story Shorts on This Old Tree, where listeners get to contribute and tell their own tree stories! From New York to California to China and Nepal, listen to what people have to say about the trees that inspire them. Guests Gil Reavill Author, screenwriter, journalist en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gil_Reavill James Voorhies Retired grounds manager and entomologist Paul Smith College '72 Georgia Silvera Seamans Founder, Local Nature Lab Host, Your Bird Story podcast Chi Ngai Chan Staff Scientist, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School linkedin.com/in/chingaichan/ Fran Hutton Lee Retired GIS specialist and cartographer linkedin.com/in/fran-v-hutton-lee-4184a125/ Brandon Namm Tree Inspector, City of Portland, OR Principal Consultant, Laurelin Tree Consulting laurelinconsulting.com Eva Monheim Speaker, consultant, garden coach, designer, writer, photographer Co-host of The Plant a Trillion Trees Podcast evamonheim.com Leena Chapagain Botanist and gardener Dumbarton Oaks Steven Koehn Director of Cooperative Forestry U.S. Forest Service, Dept. of Agriculture www.fs.usda.gov/about-agency/state-private-forestry/coop-forestry Theme Music "This Old Tree," Diccon Lee, www.deeleetree.com Artwork Dahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/home Website thisoldtree.show Transcripts available. Follow on Facebook or Instagram This Old Tree podcast is a sponsored project of the New England Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture. To support This Old Tree and New England ISA, click here. We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~4 or 5 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone’s voice memo app and email to: doug@thisoldtree.net This episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org

The Major Oak of Sherwood Forest

Mar 13, 2023 59 min

Sherwood Forest in the County of Nottinghamshire lays claim to a world famous tree, The Major Oak. It may well have harbored Robin Hood and his merry men, or perhaps people like them. Admirers from all over the world visit the beloved English oak, drawn by the legend. Two guests from the Sherwood Forest National Nature Reserve help describe why the tree is so special. One is Paul Cook, the Warden tasked with maintaining the woodland and the landscape. The other is the Sheriff of Nottingham, or, that is, Richard Townsley, a tour guide and local authority on Robin Hood. There’s an aura around this tree thanks to the legend, but the allure and lasting popularity of England's arboreal icon has become about so much more. Guests Paul Cook Warden Sherwood Forest National Nature Reserve, RSPB Richard Townsley Tour Guide - Sheriff of Nottingham Sherwood Forest National Nature Reserve, RSPB Consulting Editor David Still, II Reader Nigel Holmes nigelholmes.com (excerpts from The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle, edited by Jonathan Kelley, The Townsend Press, Inc.) Recorder Musicians David Bor Kim Wass Recorder Music "Light of love," Anonymous "When that I was and a little tiny boy," anonymous Shakespearean stage tune "When lo, by break of morning," Thomas Morley, 1595 "It was a lover and his lass," Thomas Morley, 1600 "Tres douce dame que j’aour," Guillaume de Machaut, 14th c. "We Be Soldiers Three," Thomas Ravenscroft, 1609 Special thanks to: Rob James, Sherwood Forest Photo credit Sherwood Forest National Nature Reserve, RSPB Theme Music "This Old Tree," Diccon Lee, www.deeleetree.com Artwork Dahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/home Website thisoldtree.show Transcripts available. Follow on Facebook or Instagram This Old Tree podcast is a sponsored project of the New England Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture. To support This Old Tree and New England ISA, click here. We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~...

The Birthing Tree

Feb 27, 2023 48 min

There's a huge, spreading, 350 yr old plus white oak in McMinnville, Tennessee with a legend. It was known to the early pioneers, and it's now a state landmark tree. Listen to its story told by Warren County Historian Jimmy Haley, and former state urban forester Tom Simpson. Come along and discover the Birthing Tree through the eyes of a real pioneer family. Guests Jimmy Haley Historian Warren County, TN Tom Simpson former East Tennessee Regional Urban Forester Department of Agriculture, Division of Forestry Consulting Editor David Still, II Many thanks to Maggie Gigandet for the idea of featuring The Birthing Tree. Special thanks to: Gene Hyde Cheryl Watson Mingle Elizabeth Benton Dana Phillips Sorrentino Kasey Krouse Josh Abrams Michelle Sutton Photo credit Nick Kuhn Theme Music "This Old Tree," Diccon Lee, www.deeleetree.com Artwork Dahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/home Website thisoldtree.show Transcripts available. Follow on Facebook or Instagram This Old Tree podcast is a sponsored project of the New England Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture. To support This Old Tree and New England ISA, click here. We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~4 or 5 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone’s voice memo app and email to: doug@thisoldtree.net This episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org

Guarding the Cedars: Gilgamesh, and John Perlin's "A Forest Journey"

Feb 13, 2023 56 min

Gilgamesh, the Sumerian king of Uruk, threatens to cut down the sacred Cedar Forest and claim its wood for his people. First, he must kill the terrifying guardian of the forest, Humbaba. Can he do it? What will the gods think, and what will it mean for humanity? The story's message is central to John Perlin's republished book, A Forest Journey: The Role of Trees in the Fate of Civilization. Forests, and the wood they provide, have been crucial to human society since the beginning of recorded time, and now the fight against climate change. But what does history tell us about how we treat them? Guest John Perlin Historian, author of A Forest Journey: The Role of Trees in the Fate of Civilization Patagonia Books john-perlin.com Voice Dramatization Martha Douglas-Osmundson LinkedIn Consulting Editor David Still, II Special Thanks to: My father, David Still, for his advice and interpretation of The Epic of Gilgamesh All readings from the Epic of Gilgamesh translated by Andrew George. Theme Music "This Old Tree," Diccon Lee, www.deeleetree.com Artwork Dahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/home Website thisoldtree.show Transcripts available. Follow on Facebook or Instagram This Old Tree podcast is a sponsored project of the New England Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture. To support This Old Tree and New England ISA, click here. We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~4 or 5 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone’s voice memo app and email to: doug@thisoldtree.net This episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org

The Charter Oak

Jan 30, 2023 59 min

King James II of England threatened to revoke the precious Charter of Connecticut in 1687, and sent one of his men to retrieve it. That meant an end to the colony's limited democracy and independence. But before it was exchanged during a key meeting, a hero slipped out of the room with it under his arm and hid it within the cavity of an old oak tree. That tree - the Charter Oak - is now a state icon. Get the full story here! Guest Co-Host and Researcher Jean Zimmerman Arborist and author jeanzimmerman.com "In the Hidden History of Connecticut's Charter Oak" (blog) Guests Robert Storm Honorary Governor General of the Society of Colonial Wars, Connecticut Society of Colonial Wars in Connecticut Jack Hale Chair, Hartford Tree Advisory Commission Christopher Martin Connecticut State Forester CT State Forestry - Dept. of Energy and Environmental Protection Allan Fenner Consulting Arborist Robb Barnard (Voice of Mark Twain) Head of Performing Arts Lincoln School, Providence, RI lincolnschool.org Consulting Editor David Still, II Theme Music "This Old Tree," Diccon Lee, www.deeleetree.com Artwork Dahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/home Website thisoldtree.show Transcripts available. Follow on Facebook or Instagram This Old Tree podcast is a sponsored project of the New England Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture. To support This Old Tree and New England ISA, click here. We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~4 or 5 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone’s voice memo app and email to: doug@thisoldtree.net This episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org

Harlem's Tree of Hope

Jan 13, 2023 45 min

Picture yourself in Harlem in New York City, and it’s the 1920’s. There’s a cultural awakening going on - there’s jazz and dance, theater and literature, big celebrities and lots of new talent looking for a break. And of course - because this is a show about trees - there's a tree that becomes a symbol of the Harlem Renaissance. It’s the Tree of Hope, and it was a good luck charm to black performers looking to make the big time. Garden historian and storyteller Abra Lee tells the story of this particular tree’s rise to fame, its demise, and its enduring legacy. Guest Abra Lee Garden Historian, Horticulturist, Arborist Author of the forthcoming book, Conquer the Soil: Black America and the Untold Story of Our Country's Gardeners, Farmers, and Growers (2025) conquerthesoil.com Consulting Editor David Still, II Theme Music "This Old Tree," Diccon Lee, www.deeleetree.com Artwork Dahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/home Website thisoldtree.show Transcripts available. Follow on Facebook or Instagram This Old Tree podcast is a sponsored project of the New England Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture. To support This Old Tree and New England ISA, click here. We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~4 or 5 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone’s voice memo app and email to: doug@thisoldtree.net This episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org

Tree Story Shorts

Dec 8, 2022 31 min

This a special episode of This Old Tree, the show that features heritage trees and the human stories behind them. This time, listeners tell their own tree stories! From Vermont to California to Hawaii, listen to what people have to say about the trees that inspire them. Guests Tom Morra Arborist and Owner, TF Morra Tree Care tfmorra.com Katie Breukers Arborist and Host of Tangled Trees podcast Student at University of New Brunswick anchor.fm/tangledtrees Jean Zimmerman Author of numerous books of fiction and nonfiction, articles, and a blog Certified arborist, currently consults with New York City on tree preservation jeanzimmerman.com Andy Hillman Retired Urban Forester City of Ithaca, NY and Davey Resource Group Thomas Spadea Park Ranger and Host of My Favorite Trees podcast mftpodcast.com Bear Levangie Arborist and Co-Founder of Women's Tree Climbing Workshop womenstreeclimbingworkshop.com Walt Warriner Consulting Arborist wwca.zenfolio.com warrinerassociates.com Mike Maino Radio Show Host - WCRI, Barbershop Singer, Entertainer https://classical959.com/about/mike-maino Theme Music "This Old Tree," Diccon Lee, www.deeleetree.com Artwork Dahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/home Website thisoldtree.show Transcripts available. Follow on Facebook or Instagram This Old Tree podcast is a sponsored project of the New England Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture. To support This Old Tree and New England ISA, click here. We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~4 or 5 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone’s voice memo app and email to: doug@thisoldtree.net This episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org

Luna Endures: A Redwood's Survival Tale

Nov 26, 2022 1 hr 0 min

Luna is a 200 ft tall redwood tree that towers on a ridge deep within a privately owned forest in northern California. You may remember Julia Butterfly Hill's remarkable 2-year "tree sit" in the 1990's that helped save the tree and shed light on the indiscriminate clearcutting of redwood forests. But after an agreement was reached to save the redwood and the national news media left, another crisis arose that threatened Luna's existence, introduced new heroes, and ushered in a new era of collaboration. Guests Stuart Moskowitz Board Member and lead "Luna Covenant" monitor, Sanctuary Forest sanctuaryforest.org Dennis Yniguez Registered Consulting Arborist (ASCA), and a Board Certified Master Arborist (ISA). He received B.A. and M.A. degrees from the University of California, Berkeley, and his J.D. degree from the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law. treedecisions.com Tree Story Short Carol Kingsbury Books About Luna and Redwood Trees Cook, Diane, and Len Jenshel. Wise Trees. Abrams Books. New York. 2017. Davis, Erik. The Visionary State: A Journey Through California’s Spiritual Landscape. Chronicle Books. San Francisco. 2007. Harris, David. The Last Stand: The War Between Wall Street and Main Street Over California’s Ancient Redwoods. Sierra Club Books. San Francisco. 1996. Hill, Julia Butterfly. One Makes The Difference. Harper Collins. San Francisco. 2002 Hill, Julia Butterfly. The Legacy of Luna. Harper Collins. San Francisco. 2000 Hill, Niklas. Julia räddar skogen. Trinambai. Stockholm. 2017. Kostecki-Shaw, Jenny Sue. Luna and Me. Holt. New York. 2015. Lyon, George Ella. Voices of Justice: Poems about People Working for a Better World. Holt. New York. 2020. Podcast Consultant Robb Barnard Special thanks to Scott Parsons, for suggesting this episode and introducing me to Stuart Theme Music "This Old Tree," Diccon Lee, www.deeleetree.com Artwork Dahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/home Website thisoldtree.show Transcrip...

The Mies van der Rohe Honeylocust of the Alfred Caldwell Grove

Nov 11, 2022 56 min

A big, old, thorny honeylocust tree on the campus of the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago has a place within the history of modernist architecture and landscape design. How so? Professor and landscape architect Ron Henderson talks about the tree's relationship to Mies van der Rohe and his colleague Alfred Caldwell, and how the honeylocust became the feathery urban forest powerhouse it is today. Guests Ron Henderson Professor and Director of Landscape Architecture, Illinois Institute of Technology Founding Principal, LIRIO Landscape Architecture lirio.work https://arch.iit.edu/study/mla/ Richard Polansky Owner, Hafs Road Orchard Genoa City, Wisconsin hafsroadorchard.com Tree Story Short Tom Brennan Podcast Consultant Martha Douglas-Osmundson Theme Music "This Old Tree," Diccon Lee, www.deeleetree.com Artwork Dahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/home Website thisoldtree.show Transcripts available. Follow on Facebook or Instagram This Old Tree podcast is a sponsored project of the New England Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture. To support This Old Tree and New England ISA, click here. We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~4 or 5 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone’s voice memo app and email to: doug@thisoldtree.net This episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org

The First 9/11 Survivor Trees

Oct 27, 2022 51 min

The Survivor Tree is a well known tree planted at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum in New York City that was rescued from the rubble at the World Trade Center site after the terrorist attacks. It has become a stirring symbol of resilience and survival visited by millions of people. But few people remember there were six other trees rescued from the site and transplanted in early October of 2001. Host Doug Still was part of the City Parks Department team that found them along with his former boss Bram Gunther. Doug and Bram recount the day they visited Ground Zero, describe how these remarkable trees were saved, and discover what's become of them. Guest Bram Gunther Native New Yorker; former Chief of Forestry, Horticulture, and Natural Resources for New York City Parks; co-founding partner of Dirt Collective, a start-up focused on re-wilding. linkedin.com/in/bram-gunther-b8346522b Podcast Consultant Martha Douglas-Osmundson Music "Running Circles (Instrumental)," Cody Francis Theme Music "This Old Tree," Diccon Lee, www.deeleetree.com Artwork Dahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/home Website thisoldtree.show Transcripts available. Follow on Facebook or Instagram This Old Tree podcast is a sponsored project of the New England Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture. To support This Old Tree and New England ISA, click here. We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~4 or 5 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone’s voice memo app and email to: doug@thisoldtree.net This episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org

Chronicling a Tree: Thoreau's Concord Elm

Oct 14, 2022 59 min

Concord, Massachusetts, 1856. Four men cut down a huge, seemingly healthy American elm tree using block and tackle, and ropes drawn by a horse. The graceful tree towered above a house whose owners heard creaking during a storm - they felt unsafe and had it removed. The event would have been long forgotten, except one of America’s greatest writers and earliest environmentalists also lived in Concord - Henry David Thoreau. Supremely ticked-off, the removal of the stately elm inspired a flurry of journal writing by Thoreau that defined elms as symbols of virtue that looked to Concord’s past and the country’s future. Guest Thomas Campanella, Professor at Cornell University and author of Republic of Shade: New England and the American Elm, shares his work. It turns out, elm trees helped define our young nation’s sense of itself. Guest Thomas J. Campanella Professor of City and Regional Planning Cornell University Republic of Shade: New England and the American Elm, Yale University Press, 2003. Henry David Thoreau and the Yankee Elm, Arnoldia, 2001. Other Sources: Thoreau and the Language of Trees, Richard Higgins, Univ of California Press, 2017. Podcast Consultant Martha Douglas-Osmundson Music "Nothing Like the Summer," Brightarm Orchestra Theme Music "This Old Tree," Diccon Lee, www.deeleetree.com Artwork Dahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/home Website thisoldtree.show Transcripts available. Follow on Facebook or Instagram This Old Tree podcast is a sponsored project of the New England Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture. To support This Old Tree and New England ISA, click here. We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~4 or 5 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone’s voice memo app and email to: doug@thisoldtree.net This episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports R...

The Edison Banyan

Oct 1, 2022 45 min

Why did Thomas Edison plant a banyan tree sapling at his winter residence in 1926? You guessed it, there was an experiment involved. Native to India, it is now a massive, beloved tree at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers, Florida. While this isn’t an “escape from the lab” story, it is sort of a “took over the lab” story! Debbie Hughes, the Horticultural Director, explains what happened. Also, we dig into the mythology of fig trees - specifically “strangler” figs - and their critical ecological and cultural importance with rainforest ecologist and author Mike Shanahan. Guests Debbie Hughes Horticultural Director, Edison & Ford Winter Estates https://www.edisonfordwinterestates.org/ Mike Shanahan Author, Gods, Wasps, and Stranglers: The Secret History and Redemptive Future of Fig Trees https://underthebanyan.blog/about/ Tree Story Short Sashil Sachdeva Vadodara, India Podcast Consultant Martha Douglas-Osmundson Music "Sleepy Head," Alchemorph Theme Music "This Old Tree," Diccon Lee, www.deeleetree.com Artwork Dahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/home Website thisoldtree.show Transcripts available. Follow on Facebook or Instagram This Old Tree podcast is a sponsored project of the New England Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture. To support This Old Tree and New England ISA, click here. We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~4 or 5 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone’s voice memo app and email to: doug@thisoldtree.net This episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org

The Betsey Williams Sycamore

Sep 15, 2022 42 min

The Betsey Williams Sycamore is the most famous tree in Rhode Island. Its huge girth and spreading branches have been photographed, climbed on, and loved by generations of visitors to historic Roger Williams Park in Providence. But its history touches on the legacy of Roger Williams, Rhode Island’s founder; introduces overlooked characters, some noble and some "shady," including a forgotten tree; and features a Williams family crisis (and divorce trial) that threatened the tree and future park. Guests Renee Gamba Director of the Museum of Natural History Parks Dept., City of Providence http://providenceri.gov/museum/ http://https://www.providenceri.gov/parks-recreation/ Ruth Macaulay History Dept., Lincoln School http://lincolnschool.org Special thanks to Andrew Smith, The Rhode Island Supreme Court Judicial Record Center, http://https://www.courts.ri.gov/JudicialRecordsCenter/Pages/default.aspx Rebecca Valentine, The Rhode Island Historical Society, http://rihs.org Readers in order of appearance Ed Nardell, Martha Douglas-Osmundson, Andy Sabo, Margaret Sabo, Laura Maxwell, Robb Barnard Podcast Consultant Martha Douglas-Osmundson Music "No Broken Windows," Headlund Theme Music "This Old Tree," Diccon Lee, www.deeleetree.com Artwork Dahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/home Website thisoldtree.show Transcripts available. Follow on Facebook or Instagram This Old Tree podcast is a sponsored project of the New England Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture. To support This Old Tree and New England ISA, click here. We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~4 or 5 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone’s voice memo app and email to: doug@thisoldtree.net This episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org

Trailer

Sep 7, 2022 1 min

Join host Doug Still - each show features heritage trees and the human stories behind them. Old trees are awe inspiring links to the past that fire our historical imagination. Each week, he’ll interview experts, historians, and regular folks to celebrate the myths and uncover the real tales. There’s also a segment called “Tree Story Shorts,” where listeners get a chance to submit and chat about the most meaningful tree in their lives. Theme Music "This Old Tree," Diccon Lee, www.deeleetree.com Artwork Dahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/home Website thisoldtree.show Transcripts available. Follow on Facebook or Instagram This Old Tree podcast is a sponsored project of the New England Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture. To support This Old Tree and New England ISA, click here. We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~4 or 5 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone’s voice memo app and email to: doug@thisoldtree.net This episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org

–

0 ratings from members

Rate this podcast

No reviews yet — be the first member to rate "This Old Tree".

This podcast, its content and its artwork are not owned by, affiliated with, or endorsed by Castquire.

El Árbol del Tule: Oaxaca's Axis Mundi

Share this podcast

Live Chart rankings

Chart history

🇺🇸 Nature Best #76

🇮🇪 Nature Best #159

Holding at #159 — the line fills in as this chart moves.

Podcast details

Created by: Doug Still
Status: Active
Latest episode: Oct 20, 2026
Episodes: 39
Release period: Occasionally
Avg. episode length: 55 min
Explicit: No
Language: English

Links

Official website ↗ Apple Podcasts ↗ RSS feed ↗

Is this your podcast?

Claim it to show it on your profile. Using the email from your RSS feed approves it instantly.

Keep listening

Discover more podcasts like this.

Browse podcasts See the charts