The folks at Rachel's Native Plants just delivered a new stack of placards that the Tree Museum will use to claim large specimen trees throughout the campus at the Plant. This time of year we are replacing bareroot trees that didn't make it, inside the fence where trees are safe from whitetails. We are planting new trees at Little Pond Gardens. With these placards we will bring attention to those trees that have endured pressure from rabbits, deer and invasive species to be

This is stand of loblolly pines that grows in the constructed wetland next to the Tree Museum. It was taken by Bob, of Bill and Bob--the twins that like to drink beer on BMC Brewing's south patio. Last winter I spent some time in Tamarindo, Costa Rica, where they have built an entire economy around sunsets (and surfing). Each night the beach fills up with a thousand people who make the trip to watch the sunset on the Pacific Ocean. Perhaps sunset tourism should begin at home

The week before Chestnut Carnival is sort of like "chestnut playtime." Here comes a chestnut Macaroon--best cookie I've ever eaten--the maker wondering about getting space at the Plant. Meadow knocked out these chestnut cookies--along with a remarkable Castagnaccio. Redtail Grains in Mebane is bringing out a new pancake mix, based on 25% chestnut flour from Route 9 Cooperative in Ohio. BMC Brewing has stockpiled a chestnut brown ale for the occasion. At Fair Game Beverag

2025 looks like a mast year for hickory nuts. I used to make hickory "milk" from nuts that fell in Scott's yard. His tree has been swallowed whole by English Ivy. When it succumbed the neighborhood lost its most prolific hickory source. I don't have a good source for hickory nuts--the hickories at my place are in the woods and when the harvest is on I always lose out to wildlife. Best to have a yard, or a driveway where you can spot the fruit when it drops. George has a tre

When I moved to Chatham in 1990, the land I bought came with a farmhouse they threw in for free. One day when the sellers and I were out...

Last Thursday night 31 people showed up at the Fair Game Wheelhouse for a second "edition" of Greenway Conversations. Earlier that day...

It doesn't look like much right now--but I think this is huge. It's a yellowwood tree ( Cladrastis kentukea ) planted by Chatham County...

I just finished Marc Berman's wonderful new book, Nature and the Mind . Although he appears to be a scientist first, and an author...

I plucked this image off Next Door. Two things struck me about the post: The writer calculated the number of acres of hardwoods that...

This just in from Josh, Chair of the Pittsboro Parks and Recreation Advisory Board:

I dragged my maps down to West End restaurant last Wednesday and had a fantastic meeting with a couple of dozen greenway/tree...

It appears my last blog entry about Greenway Conversations hit a nerve. In general the Tree Museum Blog enjoys about 150 readers. That...

There’s a new park going in next to the Plant.  It will cover both our southern and western edges.   It’s the result of a deal the Town...

Most of what I have learned about mulching has come from the guidance of Leaf and Limb .  In his book, Wasteland to Wonder , Basil Camus...

I first heard the term "Piedmont Prairie" from Matthew Arnsberger , the landscape designer out of Carrboro. We built one together in...

Eradication and the Neighbors   My invasive plant eradication effort in the neighborhood ebbs and flows. When I am in a flow state, I...

Today I had the privilege of attending The Local Church service that was held in the field at Little Pond Gardens @ the Plant. It was at...

At the opening of the Tree Museum on January 25, 2025, I had several conversations about canopy loss with some of the attendees. It made...