Comes growing mold
Hi Casey and Alex! I brought home some beloved sugar pine cones from California in November last year. One was still closed and one was open. They’ve just been on a bookcase (not in jars) since then and I recently noticed MOLD growing on both, more so on the closed one but also on the open one. Do you know what’s happening and how I can salvage them and/or prevent this in the future??
Urban Ecology Dilemma: Native vs. Adapted
As a landscape architect, I'm a huge advocate for native plantings, but I struggle with their practical application in intense urban environments. I constantly hear a push for "absolute native" at conferences and online, but the realist is that a native prairie plant simply won't survive in a downtown parking lot landscape island. We face extremes like heat island effect, pavement radiation, construction debris in the soil, salt runoff, and other nuances of urbanism. Plus, client or city codes often demand specific requirements for evergreens and groundcovers where the native options are not available or perform poorly under stress. When we're forced to choose hardy, adapted, or non-native species that can withstand these stressors, are we betraying the concept of native ecology? How do an arborist and a great indoorsman weigh the ecological benefits of natives against the critical importance of selecting plants that will actually survive and fulfill the design function in these "extreme" urban conditions?
Spooky family tree!
Hi guys, loved the swamp tupelo episode! If swamp tupelo is the creature from the black lagoon/swamp thing, what trees would be Frankenstein's monster, Dracula, the Mummy, Wolfman and whatever other cool monsters? I would love to hear a family tree for spooky season! Fungal love, Katy
Inverse bonsai
Hi! I just spent ages catching up on all the episodes I missed after having a baby. (Huge time sink, who'd've thought, right) My question is if you could make any non-tree plant the size of a tree, like an inverse bonsai, what would you choose? In this case I don't mean making a tree-version like passifloraceae, but a straight up giant plant like 60 feet tall. My choice is a daffodil because I want to sit inside the little cup. Thanks for all the years of knowledge and laughter! Also, if I may suggest a tree, can I suggest grenadilla? I'm a clarinetist and yet I know woefully little about that tree. Sincerely, Taylor :)
Southwest trees? And a correction
Hi! I love your podcast. I live in the southwest US and I know most trees you cover won't be outside my front door but I would love to hear more about our desert adapted trees. Also, I've been listening to every episode of season 8 but episode 28 didn't every make it to YouTube. And probably most importantly, in episode 34 when you answered a question about allergens, Casey said giving honey to babies can help with allergies and I wanted to clarify that honey cannot be given to babies. It's not safe for babies to consume any amounts of honey until they're at least one year old. Don't get sued. -Rianne (Ryan)
Fertilizer
Hey Casey and Alex. I work as a Plant Healthcare Technician. A big part of my job is fertilizing trees and shrubs with a lance(deep root.) I know deep root is just as good as surface application but do we actually need to fertilize the same tree year after year? I don't believe so, but would like an experts opinion. My company sells it like crazy and it bugs me. Thank you! Love the podcast, it jas deepened my love for trees and everything nature.
Do trees have different types of pollen?
Hey guys! Happy autumn, hope you’re enjoying all the lovely fall seasonal things. I’ve heard that allergies are dependent on different types of pollen from trees. I unfortunately am allergic to certain fruits, and it’s because my body basically thinks i’m eating pollen. My doctor told me that it’s dependent on the type of pollen from the trees. Apples and avocados are the worst for me, which sucks cause i really love both of those fruits. do they have a similar pollen structure? if trees do have different pollens, why would this happen? - Katie from fl !!
Changing colors in splotchy pattern?
Hi Casey and Alex! I've noticed the last few weeks as we slowly move into autumn in Iowa, there are some trees that have been changing color in a very splotchy pattern. For example, one particular part of the tree (a lower spot facing the street) will be completely changed, while the rest stays green for weeks, but then eventually all changed colors. Is there a reason why this happens? Also, Alex, you should look into submitting your info to perform at the Mile of Music Festival in Appleton, WI next summer. Artist submission generally opens up in November/December: https://mileofmusic.com/submit/. Thanks, Joan D.
Conifer-killing asteroid
Hi Casey and Alex, I was reading “When The World Was Green” by Riley Black, and when I got to the part about the “dinosaur-killing asteroid” also wiping out huge numbers of conifers, the first thing I thought was “Oh, Casey is probably so sad about this.” So, Casey, *are* you sad about this? Or are you sad because it’s called the “dinosaur-killing asteroid” and not the “conifer-killing asteroid”? Or have you pretty much become reconciled with the whole thing? Jade (she/her)
Justice for Chaparral!
As a native Californian, I feel I must stand up for our native cat swimming pools... I mean plant community. Chaparral is often denigrated because it doesn’t have “real” trees and goes summer dormant, but it’s an incredibly unique and diverse ecosystem. The variety of adaptations to the seasonal extremes alone is just super impressive. Also, pretty much any forest is gonna be pokey if there aren’t well maintained trails. I promise it’s not worse than the understory anywhere else (blackberries anyone??). I demand a formal apology from Alex “Bigberry” Crowson, preferably with echo effect. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Guerilla planting endangered species
Hello there! I was just wondering if, theoretically, an endangered species of plant or tree were to be found at a potential construction site, would that halt the construction and save the natural area? And if it would stop the construction, could a person, theoretically, guerilla plant something native and endangered in order to facilitate a stoppage of the destruction of our natural landscapes? Thank you Guy Fawkes
Supporting Alex's new album
What's up fellas?! I was a broke muhfucka during the fundraiser for Alex's new album. I might have a few bucks to spare nowadays. Is there another way to support the album? I really liked Sorry I Missed You. I didn't like it the first time I listened to it. But I think when I tried to listen to it, I was more in the mood for like Slipknot or ICP or something like that. But I listened to it again later and it's a wonderful album!! So yeah, how do I support the new album?! Thanks guys Rich Michigan
Norway maple massacre!!
Hey Alex and Casey! I live on my school campus and on the drive I there are Norway maples lining the road that are pretty but seem to be a lot weaker than some other trees on the campus. There has also been a spongy moth caterpillar “attack” in the summer of 2024 and I have noticed these trees have really not adapted well to them. This summer, 5 out of probably 15-20 of these trees have had to be cut down due to their potential of falling (which opens up space for the sun to hit the asphalt and concrete, making temperatures hotter through the urban heat island effect.) More are being cut down and I personally do not want more of this crimson king replanted just to die off again. I have not noticed a lot of symptoms in other trees around even with same climate and conditions. Do more bred and cultivated specimens have harder times when in comes to an infection, and if so why? Also what trees could be planted in the future for better protection against some natural changes and ones that look nice for general campus beauty? Love the pod, long time listener and brand new come club member! 🌲🌳🏡 -Zoe
Curly Leaf Willows!
Hi Casey and Alex! I was recently gifted a little curly leaf willow (Salix matsudana “Tortuosa”) and I love it so much! There is a meadery near my town that has the most GORGEOUS specimen tree (I will email pictures when I get them) of a Curly Leaf Willow, and I would love to grow my sapling into something similar! But my question actually is - why are they SO curly? Is that an advantage somehow, or just another “just the way it grows?” You guys are still the best podcast ever and I’m still improving my skills to be a cone illustrator one day!
Portland and Trees in Trouble in Washington Post
Hey guys - frequent listener, and always recommend you. Thought of you when I read this article today in the Washington Post:" Does your city have too much of one kind of tree? That can be a problem." It specifically mentions Portland -- https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/interactive/2025/city-tree-diversity-vulnerability-maps/ Second question -- why is it so hard to find the supercast link on your official website???? Or is it just me? Love your pod cast! Susan
I'd love to hear more about Crotons
When you were talking about variety vs cultivar recently I was reminded of my old collection of tropical houseplants (RIP; they died in a flash freeze in what was supposed to be a 4 season sunroom) and all the cultivars of croton I had. My oldest one was reaching tree status at the time (tall enough to walk under!) though I know that species is more often a shrub than a tree. Perhaps you could cover this genus, and tie in about how extensive and crazy cultivars can get? I remember back when I was collecting in the 2000s and early 2010s there was online exchanges for cultivars and seemingly hundreds of cultivars of the croton houseplant variety, so it could be a good example of cultivars being made by hobbyists. (I also remember someone who had a variegated cultivar of poison ivy... so some of these hobbyists have a sense of humour!)
Maximizing Oxygen and Carbon Removal
Hi folks, are certain tree species better at burying carbon and emitting oxygen more than others? If the entire world decided one day "hey we're actually going to fight climate change, but need to remove as much carbon and maximize oxygen output asap" - does that change the process of what trees to plant? Or is the output so miniscule that it's just the quantity and size of the trees is all that really matters and not the type of tree? Thanks!
Mountain biking
Hi guys, Thanks for identifying my Iceland tree. Unfortunately, I went back to Hallormsstaður National Forest and the Bristlecone Pines I found before were dead. I did find pines with 2 and 3 needles per fascicle with similar grey bark that I think were Mountain Pines. Now I have a question. We ride mountain bikes on trails through the woods here in Michigan and I suddenly thought “What are we doing to these trees?” We ride over roots all the time. How are they being affected short and long term?