January 10, 2026

This Week's Tour...

...met at 9:00AM Saturday in front of Inman Perk coffeeshop (240 North Highland Ave NE). 

"The Tourists"...
What a great group! Tech students! Curious Atlantans! And grandma’s 75th birthday! Happy Birthday!  I hope I earned the privilege of your time.

Book of the week...
...is just one of the many sources of inspiration for my tour; “The Light Eaters”, by Zoë Schlesinger. “How The Unseen World of Plant Intelligence Offers à New Understanding of Life on Earth.”  And if you live on Earth, like I do, boy will you find this fascinating! And it answers the question Jeff “stumped” himself with during the tour (see below).

"Stump" of the week...
...featuring a question raised during the tour that Jeff couldn't answer.

Diagram of transpiration (thanks, wiki)

Q: Jeff mentioned “transpiration”, the process by which trees bring water up from the soil by releasing water through their leaves. What happens during the winter, when trees have dropped their leaves (through abscission)?

…and holy moly, so many related questions; is water still moving thru the trees xylem? Why doesn’t the water freeze? If it does freeze, why doesn’t the water burst open the tree like frozen pipes in a home? 

A: The short answer? Mostly no… and also, trees are clever.

Without leaves, transpiration largely shuts down, so water movement slows way down. Some water does freeze—but trees are built for that. Water can freeze between cells, or squeeze into cells without causing damage. Unlike your home’s rigid pipes, tree tissues are flexible and well-insulated, so they bend instead of bursting.

Nature: still undefeated.

November 2, 2025

 This Week's Tour...

...met at 9:00AM Saturday in front of Inman Perk coffeeshop (240 North Highland Ave NE). 

"The Tourists"...
What a great group of new and OG Atlantans, in one case someone I’d met a the previous day’s Fernbank Forest tour! I hope I earned the privilege of your time.

Pic of the week...
...is just one of the many examples of street art along the Beltline…this one depicting Kevin! Everyone in the Beltline “community” knows Kevin, an amazing person who exemplifies how simple kindness and enthusiasm can be so uplifting and infectious. Be more Kevin!

Tree of the week...
...is a Trees Atlanta favorite we are proud to have in our front yard; Cherrybark oak.

Originally thought to be a sub species of southern red oak, this tree is celebrated for its fast growth, strong wood, and gorgeous fall leaves. The Latin name “pagoda” refers to the tiered shape of the lobed leaves.

Cherrybark Oak

 Quercus pagoda

"Stump" of the week...
...featuring a question raised during the tour that Jeff couldn't answer.

Super craggy bark (with bird nests) of a Douglas fir

Q: Trees have many forms of bark and that form can change as trees mature. Beech and Tulip Poplars both start with similar, smooth bark, but that definitely is not the case in older trees!

A: Both tulip poplars and American beeches begin life with thin, smooth bark, but they age quite differently due to bark elasticity. The tulip poplar’s bark loses flexibility as the tree rapidly grows in girth, forcing it to crack and form deep ridges that accommodate expansion. In contrast, the American beech maintains highly elastic, slow-growing bark that stretches instead of splitting, allowing it to stay smooth for decades. This difference reflects each tree’s growth rate and strategy: the tulip poplar prioritizes speed and height, while the beech invests in longevity and resilience. The result is a striking contrast—two smooth saplings that mature into entirely different textures over time.