My Favorite Trees

Ep. 100-The Rest of My Favorite Trees

30 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textIn the final episode of this podcast, I take you through a medley of trees I wanted to make sure got some airtime before the very end. Some...

Q&A 2

16 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textBefore the podcast reaches its conclusion, I wanted to make sure listeners had a chance to be involved with what I end up talking about. To...

Ep. 99-The Elderberry

02 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textFor the final topic episode of My Favorite Trees, we take one last look at the Celtic Ogham Tree Calendar. All the way at the end is a larg...

Ep. 98-The Spruce Revisited

19 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textFor quite some time now, I've been wanting to go back and re-record my Sitka Spruce episode and add more stories I've learned sin...

Ep. 97-The Sacred Trees of Kiso

05 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textI teased the idea of this episode a few months ago when I covered the Arborvitae, mentioning that the Japanese Arborvitae belonged to a gro...

Ep. 96-The Mulberry

20 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textMany children around the world grow up singing the nursery rhyme, "Here we go 'round the Mulberry bush." But what is a Mulbe...

Ep. 95-The Tupelo (ft. Doug Still)

06 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textOn this special field trip of an episode, I join arborist and host of the podcast, "This Old Tree," Doug Still on a hike through ...

Ep. 94-The Myrtle

23 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textThe Myrtle is a small Mediterranean tree with significance tied to just about every culture of that region--due in large part to how fragra...

Ep. 93-Forester Spotlight: Richard St. Barbe Baker

09 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textHappy New Year, tree fans! For the first episode of 2024, I present to you another story of a historical figure that helped reshape our mod...

Ep. 92-The Fir

26 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textWhile there are many holidays that coincide with the Winter season, there are few that involve traditions I love so much as the Christmas T...

Ep. 91-The Arborvitae

12 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textDepending on where you live, you may know this tree better as Cedar. There's the Northern White-Cedar, the Western Redcedar, and a few...

Ep. 90-The African Marula

28 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textOn this rare trip to the African continent, we look at a keystone savanna species: the Marula. These trees reflect the movement of the grea...

Ep. 89-The Pinyon Pine

14 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textOf the many Pine species in the world, only a few yield seeds that we know as Pine Nuts. That's right, we're not done with nuts q...

Ep. 88-The Macadamia Tree

31 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textFor the conclusion of this second Nut Tree Miniseries, I present you with the Macadamia Nut. An exotic snack with an absurdly hard shell th...

Ep. 87-The Pistachio Tree

17 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textThe Pistachio is considered the most successful plant introduction to the United States in the 20th century. Up until then, they were a sta...

Ep.86-The Cashew Tree

03 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textWelcome to the start of my second Nut Trees miniseries! Last year, I covered in sequence the trees that give us Almonds, Walnuts, and Pecan...

Ep. 85-The Pawpaw

19 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textThe Pawpaw tree is a mysterious one, somehow being both my most requested topic and one many are likely to not have heard of. This tree spe...

Ep. 84-Forester Spotlight: Gifford Pinchot

05 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textThis is the first of a new episode type I'll be sprinkling into the mix, where I dive into the life of notable individuals who helped ...

Ep. 83-The Peruvian Peppertree

22 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textAdmittedly, I was drawn to this tree because I assumed it served as the inspiration for the Peruvian Puff Pepper that was mentioned in Seas...

Ep. 82-The Candlenut

08 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textHawaii's upcoming Statehood Day has historically been a controversial holiday for its people. With this in mind, I have chosen this oc...

Ep. 81-The White Poplar

25 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textThis close relative of the Aspen is not just recognizable by its white bark--the White Poplar is iconic for its multicolored leaves with ro...

Ep. 80-The Sycomore Fig

11 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textYour eyes (and ears!) do not deceive you: Though we talked about the Sycamore last episode, we're now going to be looking at the Sycom...

Ep. 79-The Sycamore/Planetree

27 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textThe American Sycamore is one of the most iconic forest trees in the eastern United States and I frequently have friends and family showing ...

Ep. 78-The Balsa Tree

13 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textIt's no coincidence that model planes, cars, and other scale replicas are often made from the same material: Balsa wood. The wood of t...

Ep. 77-The Peach Tree

30 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textFor the third and final entry in my second Fruit Tree Miniseries, I talk about the Peach Tree. While this popular fruit is often associated...

Ep. 76-The Pear Tree

16 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textIn Part 2 of my second Fruit Tree Miniseries, I cover the Pear Tree. My reaction to this tree will certainly be varied, because despite its...

Ep. 75-The Mango Tree

02 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textThis episode kicks off a new three-part fruit tree miniseries! Up first is the Mango Tree, a species hailing from India that inspires love ...

Ep. 74-Science Education with Academy Garden (ft. artist Ethan Strange)

18 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textIn this episode, I sit down with Ethan Strange, the musical artist behind Academy Garden and my theme music. He recently announced that Aca...

Ep. 73-The Scots Pine

04 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textThis week, I'm revisiting the Celtic Ogham Tree Calendar--but completely out of season. The Scots Pine represents the day after the Wi...

Ep. 72-The Sabal Palm

21 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textAs Florida and South Carolina celebrate their respective statehood and independence days this month, we will celebrate their shared state t...

Ep. 71-The Sandalwood

07 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textSandalwood is most widely known as a fragrance--whether in the form of incense, essential oils, or as soaps and sprays. How common it is to...

Ep. 70-The Beech

21 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textThe Beech is iconic for its smooth, thin, grey bark. Carving one's initials into these trees is so recognizable a practice that it ins...

Ep. 69-Discussing "A Forest Journey" (ft. author John Perlin)

07 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textToday I sit down with John Perlin, author of the book A Forest Journey: The Role of Trees in the Fate of Civilization. This book was origin...

Ep. 68-The Fig Tree

24 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textIn the beginning of February, the Jewish world will be celebrating Tu B'Shevat, a New Years holiday for trees! I celebrate alongside t...

Ep. 67-The Coffee Tree

10 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textThe roasted seed of the Coffee Tree helps me, and a billion other people, wake up and be productive every day. This alone gives it signific...

Ep. 66-The Yew

27 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textTo cap off 2022, we are returning to the Celtic Ogham Tree Calendar to look at the representative of the Winter Solstice: the Yew. This eve...

Ep. 65-Interview with PHS Tree Tenders (ft. Tim Ifill)

13 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send a text This week, I have my first ever guest on My Favorite Trees. Tim Ifill is the director of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society's Tr...

Ep. 64-The Larch

29 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send a text As winter begins to take hold of the land, we often look to conifers that stay green all year round for comfort. Except, there's one...

Ep. 63-The American Elm

15 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send a text Elms are some of the best trees to plant in our neighborhoods, thanks to their wide, shady crowns. For this alone, they are loved by many...

Ep. 62-The Latex Tree Medley (Rubber and Chewing Gum)

01 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send a text Did you know that half of all rubber on the market comes from trees? And that chewing gum used to also be made from this same natural lat...

Ep. 61-Deadly Trees and Haunted Forests

18 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textWith Halloween less than two weeks away, we're getting in the holiday spirit with a spooky topic. Why are we so afraid of the deep dar...

Ep. 60-The Date Palm

04 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textDates are among the earliest tree crops cultivated by humans and retain cultural significance throughout the Middle East and the surroundin...

Ep. 59-The Douglas-Fir

20 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textThe Douglas-Fir is one of the most iconic of the big trees that define the Pacific Northwest region of North America. Its wood is premier f...

Ep. 58-The Pecan

06 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textNothing says Fall in Texas quite like a slice of pecan pie. This final nut of our miniseries is truly a staple of the American South as it ...

Ep. 57-The Walnut

23 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textThe walnut is considered by some to be the "King of Nuts." Part two of this three-part miniseries will explore why this food has ...

Ep. 56-The Almond

09 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textThis is the first part of a new miniseries focused on nut trees! Almonds are considered the largest nut crop in the world, but are they act...

Ep. 55-The Cork Oak

26 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send a text Have you ever wondered where the cork in your wine bottle comes from? Or the cork in corkboard where you hang cheesy photos from high sch...

Ep. 54-The Cycad

12 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textWhat many understand to be the age of the dinosaurs is, in the plant world, the age of the Cycad. These are weird plants that look like pal...

Ep. 53-The Mangrove

28 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textMangroves are incredible plants that survive the salty waters of tropical coastal areas. Learn about the fascinating ecosystems they create...

Ep. 52-Forest Management

14 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textThis is an episode where I cover a broad forestry topic. What exactly does it mean to manage a forest? I explain what being a forester and ...

Ep. 51-Kentucky State Tree Medley

31 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textAs Kentucky celebrates its 230th birthday as a state, we will celebrate one of the strangest legal disputes in American history. For decade...

Ep. 50-The Cacao Tree

17 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textChocolate. That's it, that's the episode. This is the tree that gives us one of my greatest joys in life--learn about where it co...

Ep. 49-The Longleaf Pine

03 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textThe Longleaf Pine is a tree that once covered great expanses of the Gulf and Atlantic coastal states of the US. But now, these trees only o...

Ep. 48-The 150th Arbor Day

19 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send a text2022 marks 150 years since the first modern Arbor Day was celebrated in the state of Nebraska. We are honoring this occasion by looking int...

Ep. 47-The Rhododendron

05 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textSpring is here and that means it's time to celebrate Spring flowers. One of my favorite flowers belongs to a plant known as the Rhodod...

Ep. 46-The Eucalyptus

22 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send a text Eucalyptus is a genus of around 700 trees and shrubs that call Australia and southeast Asia home. Hear about their wonderful fragrance, t...

Ep. 45-The American Oaks

08 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send a text This episode covers the Oak species native to the United States. This incredibly diverse group of trees comes with an incredible history-...

Ep. 44-Ranger's Choice Medley (Limber Pine and Walking Palm)

22 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send a text This episode celebrates the birthdays of two park rangers who have inspired my own path as a ranger. To make both their dreams come true,...

Ep. 43-The Juniper

08 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textThe Juniper is a tree that can be found from the highest peaks to the doctor's office to the...bathtub? Medicine, food, gin, and more,...

Ep. 42-Forest Fires

25 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textIn this break from format, I discuss my first broader forestry-related topic: forest fires. Fire is a part of this world that is important ...

Ep. 41-The Olive Tree

11 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textSundown on January the 16th marks the beginning of Tu B'Shevat 2022. For the second year in a row, I've decided to celebrate this...

Ep. 40-The Birch

28 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send a text We're once again revisiting the Celtic Ogham Tree calendar to finally cover the first month, named for the Birch Tree. This tree&apo...

Ep. 39-The Bodhi Tree

14 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textThere's more than one December holiday that centers around a tree! Bodhi Day celebrates that day when Siddhartha Gautama sat under a B...

Ep. 38-The Maple Revisited

16 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textWe know how the Sugar Maple became so famous, but what about all the other Maples? Hear how the rest of the Maple trees have influenced cul...

Ep. 37-The Cedar of Lebanon

02 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textThe Cedar of Lebanon is a symbol of national pride featured on its home country's flag and in the oldest preserved human legends. Musi...

Ep. 36-The Apple Tree

19 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textIn the third and final installment of my fruit series, I talk about the Apple Tree. The apple is perhaps the oldest cultivated and most wel...

Ep. 35-The Coconut Tree

05 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textPart 2 of my fruit tree series is about the Coconut Tree. The coconut is synonymous with island time—warm breezes and chill vibes. Hear h...

Ep. 34-The Citron

21 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textIn this part of my fruit tree series, I discuss the origin of citrus fruits. The citron is one such tree that has influenced multiple relig...

Ep. 33-The Ginkgo

07 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textThe Ginkgo is an incredibly fascinating species that has changed relatively little over the last 200 million years. Where are its relatives...

Ep. 32-The Bristlecone Pine

24 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textHow old is the oldest living organism? Bristlecone Pines can live for thousands of years and their ancient forms have taught us much about ...

Ep. 31-The Hazel

10 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textThis will be the last Celtic Ogham Tree I cover for the rest of this year. Hazelnuts have served as an important food source for humans sin...

Ep. 30-The Dragon's Blood Tree

27 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textOn the island of Socotra, there lives a tree that looks unlike any other and bleeds red blood. Learn what this tree can teach us about a de...

Ep. 29-The English Holly

13 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textThe 8th month of the Celtic Ogham Tree Calendar is named for the Holly. But isn't the Holly a symbol of Christmastime? Why do we see i...

Ep. 28-The Ohio Buckeye

29 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textNo one loves a tree as much as Ohioans love their Buckeyes. How did this infatuation come to be and what has it driven them to do? Music is...

Ep. 27-The English Oak

15 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textThe oak is a symbol of strength—throughout time and in every culture that lives alongside it. Hear how this imposing European tree connec...

Ep. 26-The Linden

01 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textIn this episode, I talk about the Lime Tree—not the green citrus, but a tree known as the Basswood or Linden. This tree symbolized love i...

Q&A

18 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textBefore I switch to scheduled episodes every other week, I wanted to take some time to reflect on the first 6 months of this show and answer...

Ep. 25-The Spice Trees 2 (The Spice Islands)

11 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textThe back half of this Spice Tree series is about the trees found on the Spice Islands of Indonesia, where we get nutmeg, mace, and clove. F...

Ep. 24-The Spice Trees 1 (Cinnamon and Peppercorn)

04 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textIn the first half of my spice tree series, I introduce the stories that Arab traders used to build a monopoly of mystery around cinnamon an...

Ep. 23-The Cottonwood and Arbor Day

27 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textThis week is the United State's observance of Arbor Day. Hear the story of how this tree-planting holiday came to be and learn about a...

Ep. 22-The Willow

20 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textThe episode celebrates the fifth month of the Celtic Ogham Tree Calendar, the Willow Moon. The Willow is a tree known throughout the world ...

Ep. 21-The Laurel

13 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textAnother listener requested tree, the Laurel has continued to be a mainstay in various cultures thanks to its symbolism of achievement, uses...

Ep. 20-The Hemlock

06 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textA listener-requested tree! The Hemlocks of North America are conifers known for their flexibility and ability to withstand harsh winters. F...

Ep. 19-The Cherry

30 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textDelicious fruit, lovely spring flowers, and gorgeous wood. Cherry trees serve many purposes to humans around the world, but where do they c...

Ep. 18-The Alder

23 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textWe are now in month four of the Celtic Ogham Calendar, the Alder Moon! This semi-aquatic tree is tied to the Spring Equinox, fairies, the f...

Ep. 17-The Bradford Pear

16 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textWe're turning the podcast on its head this week and instead talking about one of my LEAST favorite trees. Come listen to me rant about...

Ep. 16-The Giant Sequoia

09 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textThis is part two of my biggest trees two-parter. This week I talk about the world's largest living thing by volume, the Giant Sequoia....

Ep. 15-The Coast Redwood

02 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textThis is part one of my miniseries about the world's biggest trees. This week I talk about the world's tallest tree, the Coast Red...

Ep. 14-The Ash

23 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textThis week we continue to discuss the trees of the Celtic Ogham Calendar. Ashes are trees found across the Northern Hemisphere and have infl...

Ep. 13-The Baobab

16 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textThis episode is about our first southern hemisphere tree: The Baobab! This utterly strange looking tree is a source of food and medicine fo...

Ep. 12-The Sitka Spruce

09 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textThis episode takes us to the Pacific Northwest to talk about one of the western giants, the Sitka Spruce. Aside from being one of the bigge...

Ep. 11-The Rowan

02 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textAccording to the Celtic Ogham Calendar, we are in the month known as the Rowan Moon. This episode is about the Rowan, its magical propertie...

Ep. 10-The Pomegranate (Tree New Year)

26 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textThis week features the Jewish holiday Tu B'shevat, a sort of Tree New Year. To celebrate, I am talking about one of the Seven Species ...

Ep. 9-The American Chestnut

19 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textThis episode is about the tragedy of the American Chestnut. A species once 4 billion trees strong and integral feature of Appalachian cultu...

Ep. 8-The Banyan

12 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textKnown as the Strangler Fig and the Walking tree, the Banyan is an iconic feature of the country of India and holds extensive symbolism thro...

Ep. 7-The Southern Magnolia

05 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textIn this episode, I talk about one of the most loved trees of the American South. The Southern Magnolia has played an important role in the ...

Ep. 6-The Christmas Tree

15 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textIn this episode, I talk about evergreens and the roles they've played in winter holidays throughout history. Then I talk about how tho...

Ep. 5-The Aspen

08 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textIn this episode, I talk about the Aspen, a tree with incredibly unique biological adaptations that holds great importance in the realm of f...

Ep. 4-The Princess Tree

01 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textIn this episode I talk about the Princess Tree. Native to East Asia, this tree is planted worldwide for its lovely Spring flowers and also ...

Ep. 3-The Eastern White Pine

24 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Send a textIn this episode, I tell you all about the Eastern White Pine and the role it played as a catalyst for the American Revolution. Music is by ...