Tree Speak and the Wood Wide Web Traditionally, we have viewed trees as individuals, stoic as they compete for sunlight, survive storms, and slowly grow from tiny seeds to monstrous sentinels. This viewpoint is human, a sort of anthropomorphized version of a natural-resource economy or a misunderstanding of Darwinism. Only the strong trees endure, as they …
Sakura If one should ask you concerning the spirit of a true Japanese, point to the wild cherry blossom shining in the morning sun. –Motoori Norinaga, Shikishima no Uta Since at least the 8th century, people in Japan have practiced hanami, which translates literally to “flower viewing.” The flower in question is the sakura, also known as …
Christmas Trees Perhaps the ubiquity of Christmas ubiquities is the tree that many celebrants add to their homes to decorate during the season. Raising plants indoors is not an oddity, but purchasing a sizable tree to move into one’s abode seems a bit out of the ordinary. How did we begin to string lights, toss …
Shinrin-yoku The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness. — John Muir Many of us inherently sense the benefits of the woods. A few of our patron thinkers – Thoreau and Muir, amongst others – tied their lives to the notion that humans should not be separated from the wilderness. For …
The Color Change Autumn Is A Second Spring When Every Leaf Is A Flower. –Albert Camus Why don’t you make like a tree and get out of here? — Biff Tannen One of the greatest boons to living somewhere with distinct seasons is the fireworks show the trees give us every autumn. The reds, oranges, …
Prometheus and Methuselah The mountains of California, Nevada, and Utah contain magical creatures. These ancient beings live thousands of feet above sea level in unforgiving terrain. Sometimes, you might encounter one, a gnarled hermit, and suspect she is dead. Yet these presences are masters of survival; they have outlasted countless human civilizations; they have bested …
Hyperion Today’s title subject could refer to a variety of things. Hyperion was one of the 12 Greek Titans and a byname for the Sun, Helios. It’s the name of one of Saturn’s moons. We could discuss the genus of beetle named Hyperion or the supercluster of galaxies of the same moniker or Longfellow’s poem. …
General Sherman Though we’re big fans of history here at Mountains Headquarters, we do not ostensibly produce history-driven products. So, today’s headline topic is not the American Civil War General from Lancaster, Ohio, but she is named for the Union man. If you’re a big tree person (or a “big tree” person!), our subject needs …
Mapping the Forest Soundscape The internet is a sprawling amalgamation of wasteland and oasis. For every worthless, vile haven there is a beacon of wonder we could not have accessed a generation or two ago. I recently had a conversation about education in which it occurred to me that I believe one of the key …
Maximum Tree Height The tallest trees in the world are Coast Redwoods. The highest known specimen is named Hyperion and is located somewhere in Redwood National Park in California. Its exact location is a well-guarded secret to protect it from potential damage. One day, I’m sure, we’ll explore this grand tree in its own article, …