Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Tom Kimmerer, PhD

@tomkimmerer.bsky.social

29K followers 4.8K following 7.7K posts

I am a forest scientist, botanist, tree physiologist writing about relationships between trees and humans including climate change. A Fulbright Scholar, Author of Venerable Trees and books in progress. Read about trees here: https://ourtrees.substack.com.

ourtrees.substack.com.

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Tom Kimmerer, PhD @tomkimmerer.bsky.social · 6h

Fascinating. I’d be interested in following your work.

Tom Kimmerer, PhD @tomkimmerer.bsky.social · 9h

Very interesting! I know they thrive at low pH, but is there something more specific?

1 1

Tom Kimmerer, PhD @tomkimmerer.bsky.social · 9h

Congratulations! You can look forward to warmer winters than in Madison.

1 1

Tom Kimmerer, PhD @tomkimmerer.bsky.social · 11h

Sourwood, Oxydendrum arboreum, with its blazing red foliage and yellow racimes of capsules is one of the most spectacular autumn trees in the southern Appalachians. It also makes wondeful honey. More at Our Trees.

Tom Kimmerer (@tomkimmerer)

There are a few trees that I seek out each year to enjoy a spectacular autumn display. One of my favorites is sourwood, Oxydendrum arboreum, a southern tree in the understory of poor woodlands. Its co...

substack.com

1 4 29

Tom Kimmerer, PhD @tomkimmerer.bsky.social · 1d

Lovely photo!

1 1

Tom Kimmerer, PhD @tomkimmerer.bsky.social · 1d

Very few Americans even know what a quince is, let alone how to eat them. Good work!

1 8

Tom Kimmerer, PhD @tomkimmerer.bsky.social · 1d

Autumn is a time of glorious tree colors, but some of our most important trees are gone. This row of autumn purple white ash trees was wiped out by the emerald ash borer, which continues to devastate most ash species. But there is hope. Read their story at Our Trees.

Tom Kimmerer (@tomkimmerer)

As we celebrate the joy of the autumn season, we also need to mourn the loss of some very important trees. The photo shows a row of Autumn Purple ash, a showy clone of white ash (Fraxinus americana) g...

substack.com

10 45

Tom Kimmerer, PhD @tomkimmerer.bsky.social · 1d

That blend of leaf and flower colors is beautiful. Thank you!

Tom Kimmerer, PhD @tomkimmerer.bsky.social · 1d

Yes, lets. This is important to the book I am writing now.

Tom Kimmerer, PhD @tomkimmerer.bsky.social · 1d

This is a very interesting response. I think that you and I, as tree biologists, may have a different experience with individuality, and a more nuanced concept of the individual, as compared with folks whose experience is entirely with humans.

1 3

Tom Kimmerer, PhD @tomkimmerer.bsky.social · 2d

What a delightful story, which I never heard before. Thank you!

Tom Kimmerer, PhD @tomkimmerer.bsky.social · 2d

This is so painful, and it is what the present administration would like to bring back.

Tom Kimmerer, PhD @tomkimmerer.bsky.social · 2d

Always delightful! Thank you.

1 1

Tom Kimmerer, PhD @tomkimmerer.bsky.social · 2d

At a professional level.

Tom Kimmerer, PhD @tomkimmerer.bsky.social · 2d

Albert Einstein's violin just sold for over $1,000,000, well above the expected price. Fine violins are valued for their quality as instruments, and for their history, including who played them. This was Einstein's first violin he bought at age 16, and sold in 1932 before he emigrated to the US.

Tom Kimmerer (@tomkimmerer)

There are many musicians among great scientists, but none more notable than Albert Einstein. He played the violin very well, and often practiced while solving physics problems. His violin, made in 189...

substack.com

1 10 59

Tom Kimmerer, PhD @tomkimmerer.bsky.social · 2d

Nice specs!

1 1

Tom Kimmerer, PhD @tomkimmerer.bsky.social · 2d

The drought monitor shows us that New England has gotten some relief, especially in the south. The map will be updated on Monday and we should see some further improvement.
(Note: this map is far more informative than the straight drought map that many people use).

ndmcblends.unl.edu

Tom Kimmerer, PhD @tomkimmerer.bsky.social · 2d

The trees would be grateful if the bobcat chased the deer away!

1 3

Tom Kimmerer, PhD @tomkimmerer.bsky.social · 2d

Beautiful, and seeems very early. Perhaps due to your drought?

Tom Kimmerer, PhD @tomkimmerer.bsky.social · 2d

Nice!

Tom Kimmerer, PhD @tomkimmerer.bsky.social · 2d

This is that interesting Asian hybrid. H. x intermedia. It flowers quite late here, and I don’t think it has pollinators (though I could be wrong).

1 1

Tom Kimmerer, PhD @tomkimmerer.bsky.social · 2d

In the eastern deciduous forest, keep your eyes open in the next few weeks for the dramatic flowering of witch-hazel, Hamamelis virginiana. It is the only native tree that flowers in late fall or early winter. Read about it at Our Trees, and go look for it in your woods in a couple of weeks.

Tom Kimmerer (@tomkimmerer)

One of our most charming small trees is witch-hazel, Hamamelis virginiana. It is founnd in rich forest understories, especially near bottoms. You may know witch-hazel for the medicinal use of a distil...

substack.com

5 14 100

Tom Kimmerer, PhD @tomkimmerer.bsky.social · 2d

As part of the research for my book Venerable Trees, I had the pleasure of reading through early Bluegrass land surveys. It was a deeply interesting experience.

Tom Kimmerer, PhD @tomkimmerer.bsky.social · 2d

Here are some great opportunities at UNC-Chapel Hill, in a very strong biology department.

Mark Peifer (He, him) @peiferlabunc.bsky.social · 2d

I'm very excited to announce that UNC Biology has 6 faculty positions open this year! The first is for an Asst Professor who studies organismal resilience using an integrative approach 1/n
unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/307...

Poster with QR code linking to the position

5 20

Tom Kimmerer, PhD @tomkimmerer.bsky.social · 2d

I look forward to the answer!