Today’s reminder that we are still very far from knowing everything: I have just found an odd gap in the scientific literature: the specific mechanisms of generating root pressure in trees and how this relates to the force that tree roots can exert on their surroundings (eg pavements/sidewalks), and what those forces actually are. As far as I can see, having done an extensive literature search, nothing has been done on this since the 1970s. Zilch. Not a sausage. Frustrating! #science#trees
According to Norwegian folklore, mare twigs ('marekvister') are structures that appear on a birch tree because a mare has been riding it. It was believed that hanging mare twigs in the bedroom would keep the nightmare inducing mares at bay. These structures are actually caused by the fungus Taphrina betulina.
Hawthorn, flowers just opening. We planted this #hedge in 2019. For rapid #CarbonCapture capture scrub outperforms #trees though in a 15-30 year timescale the trees will take over. The trees will also do better with the hedge for cover. As well as being full of buds this hedge is full of #birds, biodiversity and carbon capture hand in hand.
My tiny #apple orchard.
Unintentional early #trees (#Treelings), from #seed. Usually, I won't grow until March, as there is insufficient sunlight to promote growth. Winter #apples are shipped and stored just above freezing. You can guess how old the Fresh Produce actually is, based on the fact that apple #seeds need about 90 days of near, or below freezing temperatures for #stratification (to sprout) four trees (so far) that I am #growing here, sprouted in apples purchased in recent week.
Why does the month of February have an "r" after the "b"? Am I mispronouncing the name because I pronounce it as "Feb you air ee." I've tried to enunciate that extra "r" but it just doesn't work. I just watched a video of how to pronounce that month name and the "r" after the "b" is still silent, so why is it there to begin with? Do you think it has anything to do with ancient aliens?
"Calvin: Isn’t it strange that evolution would give us a sense of humor? When you think about it, it’s weird that we have a physiological response to absurdity. We laugh at nonsense. We like it. We think it’s funny. Don’t you think it’s odd that we appreciate absurdity? Why would we develop that way? How does it benefit us?
About fifty metres from our house there is woodland, and in the woodland there are several stands of coast redwoods, which were planted in the 1930s as a forestry experiment. The growing conditions here really seem to suit them, and today, these exotic introductions are getting quite tall. This picture was taken only last week.