Vicky in American Forests Magazine

352 of Ryan Somma‘s Creative Commons Science and Nature Images appear in Wikipedia articles. (228 credited as Ryan Somma, 124 as ideonexus). One could argue by sharing his photos, Ryan is helping to educate and inspire.

Well, *I*, Vicky Sawyer, now have a claim in the realm of education and knowledge as well! I have zero pictures in Wikipedia… but I *do* have a photo in the Winter 2010 Issue of American Forests magazine! My photo appears in an article on the “Continuing Saga of the American Chestnut”:

Vicky’s Picture in American Forests!!!

It’s a wonderful and informative article that definitely does not need my picture to be interesting. Be sure to check out the full version online!

Survivor Tree Unseen

Sometimes the full extent of a tree’s harsh environment can not be fully appreciated until after the tree’s death. Times of drought and fire scars are documented in the tree’s rings. Or how about this tree? When the wood was being burned, it became pretty clear the tree had encountered a fence in its younger days. There was a piece of barbed wire inside!

Barbed Wire Fire (Photo courtesy of artsufartsu)

Surprises at the American Museum of Natural History

In October, Ryan and I traveled up to New York City for a long weekend. During our visit, we stopped by the American Museum of Natural History.

This was my first visit to the city and thus the museum, but Ryan had been there numerous times before. He suggested the “New York State Environment” exhibit as a starting point. That man knew exactly what he was doing!

As I took my time moving from diorama to diorama reading about soil types and fauna and farming techniques, Ryan patiently waited, knowing a surprise was lurking ahead in the “North American Forests” exhibit.

Soon enough I went around a corner to find a 300 foot cross section of a 1300 year old giant Sequoia tree! It made me happy and giddy and at thirty-four years of age, I got to experience the same sense of marvel and discovery eleven year Jacal had the other week at Fun Junktion.

HUGE surprise!

There was another surprise in the exhibit that Ryan did not anticipate. I spent a lot of time at the dioramas looking for familiar vegetation and reading the legends of what tree is what. I came to one display and as I was reading the literature, I saw there was an American Chestnut listed.

“What?!? Where?!?”

I looked back up at the diorama, but still didn’t see it.

Do you see the American Chestnut?

I consulted the legend again and found the tree. It’s in the background.

It’s the dead one. 🙂

American Chestnut in the Diorama

And later there was another display that explained why the tree was dead.

Sac Fungi Display

Although they weren’t the happiest depictions, I’m glad the American Chestnut was not forgotten and still included in the museum. And I’m sure one day, the curators will have to revise their exhibit to accommodate a very different appearance from the tree. 🙂

Baby Burs

Look what Tony Airaghi and I found on the way to Keffer Oak a few weeks ago.

Baby American Chestnut Burs

They were roughtly 0.10 miles northbound on the Appalachian Trail after it crosses VA-630.

Heart in Nature: Pipal Leaf

Earlier this week, I posted about the practice of painting Pipal leaves. Pipal trees have a special place in history. It was under a pipal tree that Siddhartha Gautama obtained enlightenment. Thereafter he was known as…Buddha.

Today’s Heart in Nature is courtesy of Barney’s Star and highlights that sacred species of tree.

Baby Pipal Leaves (Photo Courtesy of Barney’s Star)

Pipal Leaves – Then and Now

I found a lot fascinating at the Ripley’s Believe It Or Not Museum in Ocean City, Maryland. Here’s another item:

Pipal Leaf Painting

EAST INDIAN LEAF PAINTING
Sacred to Hindus and Buddhists, the leaves of the pipal or bho tree, are often used in India by folk artists as canvasses to paint miniature accounts of historical or religious scenes, Believe It or Not!

Upon research, I found this practice continues today. Though…the technique, not to mention the content, appears to be a little more modern. : )

Michael Jackson Pipal Leaf, one of many designs from InALeaf.com.

Silo Tree Updates – August 3rd, 2009

Silo Tree Divining Rod, Ken Wolf, has photographed four more silo trees in Kansas. The Silo Trees of the U.S. listing has been updated accordingly– putting Kansas’ total at 12 trees!

This silo tree is located in Jefferson County, Kansas. Photograph courtesy of Ken Wolf

Buck Creek, Kansas is home to this silo tree. Photograph courtesy of Ken Wolf.

Another find by Ken Wolf in Sibleyville, Kansas. Photograph courtesy of Ken Wolf.

Another silo tree from Sibleyville, Kansas! Photograph courtesy of Ken Wolf.

More photos can be found in the Trees in Silos Flickr group. If you spot a silo tree you’d like to share, let me know!

“Tide Compare” – Hopewell Rocks

The entrance fee for Hopewell Rocks at the Bay of Fundy is good for two consecutive days to allow visitors to see the rocks in both high and low tide. There are a number of potential “Tide Compare” combinations on Flickr, but I’ll share just one. This comparison is courtesy of Jim Loftus, who visited the park in 2005.

Hopewell Flower Pots: Low Tide and High Tide
(Photo courtesy of Jim Loftus)

More Guns For Reproduction

Bringing back the perfect tree
Last February, I did a post entitled Guns for Reproduction where I talked about how a shotgun helped collect pollen for the American Chestnut Foundation‘s breeding program.

Yesterday, the Richmond Registry in Kentucky published an article with another example of shotguns helping the American Chestnut. This time, the firearm is used to spread collected pollen on flowers 35 feet in the air.

So, Willis, 37, floated a helium balloon filled with chestnut pollen into the flowering canopy and blasted it apart with his shotgun. If the tree produces chestnuts in October, he’ll know it worked.

Read the full article at the Richmond Register.

Survivor Trees: Bay of Fundy

Every 25 hours, 100 billion tons of water moves in and then moves back out Canada’s Bay of Fundy. With the water level changing on average 35 feet daily, it is one of highest tides in whole world.

The tides, along with glaciers, wind, ice and a whole lot of patience have created unique rock formations along the shoreline. The formations are called “Flowerpot Rocks“. Why? Although these rocks are isolated and are often surrounded by water, trees continue to grow on top.

Tenacious, determined and, most of all, beautiful. Meet the trees of the Bay of Fundy.

Lover’s Arch (Photo courtesy of YYZDez)

Flowerpot Rock (Photo courtesy of Marcus Frank)

Survivor Trees (Photo courtesy of Nancy Cleveland)

You can visit some of the Flowerpot Rocks in both low tide and high tide at Hopewell Rocks park. More information can be found at the park’s website.

(Hat Tip, Ryan Somma)