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This Old Tree

Doug Still

33 episodes

5 days ago

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 ...

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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 ...

Show more...

Episodes (20/33)

This Old Tree

The General Sherman Tree: First Encounters

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 ...

1 week ago

1 hour 8 minutes

This Old Tree

S'Ozzastru and the Ancient Olive Trees of Sardinia

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 at "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...

2 months ago

1 hour 5 minutes

This Old Tree

The Ginkgo at Gu Guanyin Buddhist Temple

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 p...

5 months ago

1 hour 4 minutes

This Old Tree

Tree Story Shorts IV

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 Sc...

8 months ago

45 minutes

This Old Tree

India's Kabirvad Banyan Tree

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 ...

9 months ago

1 hour 20 minutes

This Old Tree

London's Charlton House Mulberry

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.GuestsPeter ColesAuthor, MulberryMorus LondiniumDr. Stella ButlerTrustee, Royal Greenwich Heritage TrustChair, Charlton & Blackheath Amateur Horticultural...

11 months ago

1 hour 1 minute

This Old Tree

Saving Seeds: Bartram's Franklin Tree

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. GuestTom ReberDirector of Landscape and Facili...

1 year ago

1 hour 2 minutes

This Old Tree

The Tree That Owns Itself

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. GuestsMateo FennellCommunity Forestry CoordinatorAthens-Clarke County Unified GovernmentAthens, GAhttps://www.accgov.com/274/Community-ForestryJames KomenConsulting Arboris...

1 year ago

1 hour 1 minute

This Old Tree

The Mariner and the Mulberry

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. GuestsKristen RobertsOwner Truro VineyardsTruro, MAKen MacPheeArborist RepresentativeBartlett Tree ExpertsOrleans, MAJanice PelosiManagerTruro His...

1 year ago

55 minutes

This Old Tree

Tree Story Shorts III

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.GuestsRob McBrideThe Tree HunterEllesmere, Shropshire, U.K.InstagramGeorgia BarnhillAmherst ...

1 year ago

35 minutes

This Old Tree

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

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? GuestsAdam GolubProject Manager and Brussels Repre...

1 year ago

1 hour 1 minute

This Old Tree

The Emancipation Oak

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 imagi...

1 year ago

1 hour 9 minutes

This Old Tree

The Autograph Tree

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.GuestsJenni McGuireHead Guide, Coole Park Nature ReserveGort, Cou...

2 years ago

1 hour 2 minutes

This Old Tree

Trees in Song: Season 1 Finale

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 ArtistsRedwood Tree, Van Morrison Saint Dominick's Preview, 1972Warner Bros, Inc.English Trees, Crowded HouseTime on Earth, 2007Parlophone & ATO RecordsTrees, Louis Armstrong & George Jenkins and His Orchestra(Lyrics from Trees by Joyce Kilmer) 1954Big Yellow Taxi, Joni MitchellLadies of the Cany...

2 years ago

57 minutes

This Old Tree

Texas Shade: The Founders' Oak

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-HostEmily KingUrban Forester, Community Tree Preservation DivisionCity of...

2 years ago

59 minutes

This Old Tree

Preservation is Progress: The Brontë Oak

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. GuestsJohn McNeilConsu...

2 years ago

55 minutes

This Old Tree

The Moses Cleaveland Trees

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? GuestsDr. Roy LarickRetired ArchaeologistOwner of Bluestone ConservationVice Chair of the Euclid Shade Tree Co...

2 years ago

54 minutes

This Old Tree

The Imperial Pine Bonsai

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.GuestsKathleen Emerson-DellCurator of ExhibitionsNational Bonsai & Penjing MuseumU.S. National Arboretumwww.usna.usda.govMichael JamesCuratorNa...

2 years ago

59 minutes

This Old Tree

The Katsura at Dumbarton Oaks

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.GuestsRon HendersonFounding PrincipalLirio Landscape ArchitectureProfessor of Landscape Arch...

2 years ago

47 minutes

This Old Tree

Tree Story Shorts II

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. GuestsGil ReavillAuthor, screenwriter, journalisten.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gil_ReavillJames VoorhiesRetired grounds manager and entomologistPaul Smith College '72Georgia Silvera SeamansFounder, Local Nature LabHost, Your Bird Story podcastChi Ngai Cha...

2 years ago

49 minutes