Silver Maple Flowers

That Subtle Something

It is not so much for its beauty that the forest makes a claim upon men's hearts, as for that subtle something, that quality of air that emanation from old trees, that so wonderfully changes and renews a weary spirit.  
-Robert Louis Stevenson

"When we plant trees, we plant the seeds of peace and hope"

Today at work we planted an 'Autumn Splendor' Horse Chestnut tree in memory of Dr. Wangari Maathai as part of our summer camp program at work.  Dr. Maathai passed away at the age of 71 two years ago on September 25.  She is no longer with us, but her memory lives on in her organization, the Green Belt Movement, and in the actions of those she inspired.  Wangari Maathai was an environmentalist and was the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize.  She did a very simple thing, she planted trees and she encouraged others to do the same.  She said "When we plant trees, we plant the seeds of peace and hope."  This summer the children who came to camp learned about Wangari Maathai's message to plant trees and voted on what tree we would plant in her honor.  Wangari showed us that anyone, even the smallest amongst us, can make a difference, simply by planting a tree.  

Photograph taken by Kenneth Brunson

Ohio Pawpaw Festival - Lake Snowden

The Ohio Pawpaw Festival is a three day celebration of all things pawpaw!  This year was the 15th year for the annual south-eastern Ohio festival.  I went to my first pawpaw festival in 2007 when I was a student at Ohio University and have made it back for several festivals in between that first year and the 2013 festival.  I've written a little bit about the pawpaw on my blog before (click here, here and here for some of my pawpaw photography).

The pawpaw is a tree native to Ohio with a very unique fruit (also the largest fruit native to the U.S.)!  The fruit, which is soft like a custard (or pudding) tastes like a combination of banana, mango and vanilla.  This fruit is unique and unfamiliar to Americans today because the pawpaw tree (Asimina triloba) belongs to the tropical plant family Annonaceae, the majority of the plants in this family are found in the tropics, like soursop, custard-apple and cherimoya.  The fruit is also highly perishable and more likely to be found on a hike in the woods than at your local grocery store (though you can find it some farmers' markets!)  

Blue Skies

Heaven & 'Hops'

American Hophornbeam Fruits

“Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads.” - Henry David Thoreau

Kenneth and I visited Inniswood Metro Gardens today and explored the woods and a secret garden (a post about our visit will be up soon).  The secret garden has quotes about nature and gardening imprinted on low, brick walls, one of them was by my favorite transcendentalist, Henry David Thoreau.  I don't agree with everything Thoreau has written, but the above quote rings true for me, especially after a lovely day enjoying the gardens.  

The End of the Ash Tree?

Have you ever heard of the word 'invasive species?'  What about the emerald ash borer?  I ask students and summer campers these questions when telling them why we can't let the tropical rainforest butterflies out of the South Pacific Island biome at work (they, like the emerald ash borer, could become invasive if allowed outdoors).  I'm often surprised (and saddened) by how many kids have heard of this beetle and can tell me more about it.