Tom Kimmerer, PhD
@tomkimmerer.bsky.social
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.
Keep me posted.
November 17, 2025 at 11:58 PM
Keep me posted.
There are 3 species of Phoradendron in Oregon, including our eastern P. leucarpum. Oregon is just a nice place for plants.
November 17, 2025 at 11:57 PM
There are 3 species of Phoradendron in Oregon, including our eastern P. leucarpum. Oregon is just a nice place for plants.
This is a bit north of the known range of mistletoe, Phoradendron leucarpum. However, the species is moving north with climate change, and I don' t know what else it could be. Mistletoe is common on stems, not just branches. Can we get a closer look at the attachment to the main stem?
November 17, 2025 at 11:38 PM
This is a bit north of the known range of mistletoe, Phoradendron leucarpum. However, the species is moving north with climate change, and I don' t know what else it could be. Mistletoe is common on stems, not just branches. Can we get a closer look at the attachment to the main stem?
Sounds dangerous!
November 17, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Sounds dangerous!
The one on the left is Shumard oak, Quercus shumardii. It’s mostly a more southern species but there is a population on the west end of Lake Ontario.
November 17, 2025 at 2:33 AM
The one on the left is Shumard oak, Quercus shumardii. It’s mostly a more southern species but there is a population on the west end of Lake Ontario.
The top left is northern red oak; the top right is a cherrybark oak; bottom left is a scarlet oak; bottom right is a shumard oak. Good finds!
November 17, 2025 at 2:09 AM
The top left is northern red oak; the top right is a cherrybark oak; bottom left is a scarlet oak; bottom right is a shumard oak. Good finds!
It is so thrilling to see them develop language and reading skills. Much of what they say cracks us up and we remember it forever, but it is also deeply rewarding.
November 15, 2025 at 7:15 PM
It is so thrilling to see them develop language and reading skills. Much of what they say cracks us up and we remember it forever, but it is also deeply rewarding.
Good! It is the most concise expression of our situation that I have seen.
November 15, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Good! It is the most concise expression of our situation that I have seen.
Green islands are very common in autumn leaves (see my fall color stories at Our Trees on Substack). There are papers, but I would need to dig them up.
November 13, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Green islands are very common in autumn leaves (see my fall color stories at Our Trees on Substack). There are papers, but I would need to dig them up.
Notice that the green islands are between the veins, the opposite of the usual pattern. The usual explanation for this is the presence of an organism like a fungus or viruses that avoid the veins for some reason.
November 13, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Notice that the green islands are between the veins, the opposite of the usual pattern. The usual explanation for this is the presence of an organism like a fungus or viruses that avoid the veins for some reason.
Now we know what government by the stupidest looks like. It’s time to try the opposite.
November 13, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Now we know what government by the stupidest looks like. It’s time to try the opposite.
The human propensity for bitter flavors is fascinating and, I think, an evolutionary response on our part. Bitterness in food is related to longevity.
November 13, 2025 at 12:13 AM
The human propensity for bitter flavors is fascinating and, I think, an evolutionary response on our part. Bitterness in food is related to longevity.
Haunting whose house?
November 12, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Haunting whose house?
I’m writing a book that heavily depends on the literature. MDPI journals are excluded from my citations. I am unwilling to take the time to discern whether there are a few valid papers.
November 12, 2025 at 12:54 PM
I’m writing a book that heavily depends on the literature. MDPI journals are excluded from my citations. I am unwilling to take the time to discern whether there are a few valid papers.
Oh, that is fascinating. Something to add to the benefits of real trees.
November 11, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Oh, that is fascinating. Something to add to the benefits of real trees.