Completely Arbortrary

Everyone gets S.A.D. from time to time, so it's a good thing we have the witch-hazel ( Hamamelis x intermedia ), a tree (or shrub) that flowers in the darkest, dreariest months of the year. It's going to be okay. Completely Arbortrary is produced and hosted by Casey Clapp and Alex Crowson Support the pod and become a Treemium Member Follow along on Instagram Find Arbortrary merch on our store Find...

Welcome to Completely Arbortrary, you’re gonna LEARRRRN all about the Brazil nut ( Bertholletia excelsa ). On this episode as diverse in “fun facts” as the jungle is in species, we talk all about the Brazil nut (seed). Stay tuned for talk all about this fascinating species and the work going into preserving it and its home. Featuring Rhett and Danielle from Wild Green Streams for Ecological Fiends...

Oh this juniper is ever so western ( Juniperus occidentalis ). When it comes to ecological turmoil, when is it okay to blame a tree, and when should we blame ourselves? That’s the question we ask ourselves today with this “Greedy” tree. Completely Arbortrary is produced and hosted by Casey Clapp and Alex Crowson Support the pod and become a Treemium Member Follow along on Instagram Find Arbortrary...

Meet Phyllis Reynolds: original Portland Heritage Tree committee member, author of Trees of Greater Portland, and overall hardcore tree advocate. We sat down with Phyllis in the living room of her beautiful NW Portland home on the outskirts of Hoyt Arboretum, where she is a local legend and her name is spoken with mirthful reverence. To hear the full interview and see the full uncut video, support...

Fancy a game of conkers? No? Well how about a conversation about the ins and outs of arboriculture, and how it relates to the European horsechestnut ( Aesculus hippocastanum )? Hear Casey’s first-hand experience regarding how to become an arborist, and what an arborist actually is! Completely Arbortrary is produced and hosted by Casey Clapp and Alex Crowson Support the pod and become a Treemium Me...

A tree with no (officiall common) name, the Falcatifolium taxoides is a derivative tree from the island of New Caledonia. It’s yew-ish, it’s sickle-like, and it’s a PODOCARP . Plus, it has a curious leech of a friend who depends on it for everything—the world’s only parasitic gymnosperm. Completely Arbortrary is produced and hosted by Casey Clapp and Alex Crowson Support the pod and become a Treem...

It’s time for that special talk… about the rimu ( Dacrydium cupressinum ) and its special friend and lover the Kākāpō. This bird bases its entire existence around this tree, and the feelings just may be mutual. Completely Arbortrary is produced and hosted by Casey Clapp and Alex Crowson Support the pod and become a Treemium Member Follow along on Instagram Find Arbortrary merch on our store Find a...

PODOCARPS! Never have we ever discussed one of its ilk, much to the chagrin of thousands, we’re sure. And to start our mini-series of New Zealand trees, today we present the Totara ( Podocarpus totara ). With its curious leaf-like-needle-like-leaves, this conifer is so good at pretending to be a broadleaf tree, it’s practically become one. Completely Arbortrary is produced and hosted by Casey Clap...

Have you ever seen a column of gold (orange)? It may just be an oyamel ( Abies religiosa ), the sacred fir. Every year countless Monarch butterflies pilgrimage to the mountains of Mexico to spend their winter months clinging to these trees, but why? (Spoiler: we don't know.) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-in...

Can we interest you in a forest bath? On the series finale of Treeyazaki, we discuss Princess Mononoke and the hinoki cypress ( Chamaecyparis obtusa ). A tree ripe with VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and rich tradition such as forest bathing, this tree is a quintisential Japanese conifer. Completely Arbortrary is produced and hosted by Casey Clapp and Alex Crowson Support the pod and become a T...

What does a nuclear disaster do to trees? Find out on this episode of Treeyazaki, where we discuss the Miyazaki film Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind and the Japanese fir. Toxic jungles, giant bugs, and feudal politics. This movie was made for us. Completely Arbortrary is produced and hosted by Casey Clapp and Alex Crowson Support the pod and become a  Treemium Member Follow along on Instag...

Who is Totoro? They’re a spirit, a kami, of a massive camphor tree. In this episode of Treeyazaki, we talk legendary animated film My Neighbor Totoro and one of its central characters, the camphor ( Cinnamomum camphora ). We also talk about animism and its role in every culture around the entire world. Support the pod and become a  Treemium Member Follow along on Instagram Find Arbortrary mer...

Welcome to Completely Arbortrary’s Treeyazaki, a month-long exploration of the trees of Studio Ghibli and films of Hayao Miyazaki! To start our journey, we visit a bathhouse for spirits in Spirited Away. This is a story about a young girl who finds herself trapped in the spirit world, and must escape with the help of a river spirit. This episode we’re talking Shinto, the indigenous religion of Jap...

Support the pod and become a  Treemium Member Follow along on Instagram Find Arbortrary merch on our store Find additional reading on our website Cover art by Jillian Barthold Music by Aves and The Mini-Vandals See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

In this BONUS EPISODE of Completely Arbortrary, hear the first trailer for our new December theme month: TREEYAZAKI, a month-long exploration of the trees of Studio Ghibli and the films of Hayao Miyazaki. Also, stick around for a big announcement about the way you support Completely Arbortrary. Then, listen to some cutting room floor audio from three mainline episodes! Completely Arbortrary is pro...

PRESERVATION! Join us for a conversation on preservation, John Muir, and the incense-cedar (Calocedrus decurrens). Completely Arbortrary is produced and hosted by Casey Clapp and Alex Crowson Support the pod and become a  Treemium Member Follow along on Instagram Find Arbortrary merch on our store Find additional reading on our website Cover art by Jillian Barthold Music by Aves and The Mini-...

CONSERVATION! What is it? And how does it differ from preservation ? Have you been using them interchangeably too? Well, no longer! In this episode, we discuss the Oregon myrtle ( Umbellularia californica ), and its relationship to conservation, and conservation’s relationship to the first Gifford Pinchot. Completely Arbortrary is produced and hosted by Casey Clapp and Alex Crowson Support the pod...

With great distaste we present to you the Norway maple (Acer platanoides). This suburbanite tree of many faces is very popular, which might be the best thing we can say about it. But we have many good things to say about diversity. In every facet of life, diversity makes us stronger… and trees are no different! Let’s also define invasiveness and hear Casey’s extremely hot take. Completely Arbortra...

We’re poppin’ bottles on this very corky episode of Completely Arbortrary. Learn all about the cork oak (Quercus suber) and the dehesas of Spain and Portugal. These agrosilvopastoral lands are a marvel of sustainability and industry, and a beautiful template for letting nature lead the way. Also, stick around for some exciting BOOK NEWS from Casey! Completely Arbortrary is produced and hosted by C...

“A great tree, that is kind of grey!” The ghost pine (Pinus sabiniana) is one of earth’s most spookiest trees, and chock full of curiosities in almost every category of its being. FUN FACTS! Completely Arbortrary is produced and hosted by Casey Clapp and Alex Crowson Support the pod and become a  Treemium Member Follow along on Instagram Find Arbortrary merch on our store Find additional read...

It lurks in the dark, and it sees the darkness…. The honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos), like most trees, has a stick sense. How does it perceive the world? It all starts in the dark. Completely Arbortrary is produced and hosted by Casey Clapp and Alex Crowson Support the pod and become a  Treemium Member Follow along on Instagram Find Arbortrary merch on our store Find additional reading o...

A million year old forest, the Laurisilva of Madeira are stunning ecosystems trapped in time and untouched by humanity. At the center of this forest is the Canary Island Laurel (Prunus lusitanica). Completely Arbortrary is produced and hosted by Casey Clapp and Alex Crowson Support the pod and become a  Treemium Member Follow along on Instagram Find Arbortrary merch on our store Find addition...

Completely Arbortrary is produced and hosted by Casey Clapp and Alex Crowson Support the pod and become a  Treemium Member Follow along on Instagram Find Arbortrary merch on our store Find additional reading on our website Cover art by Jillian Barthold Music by Aves and The Mini-Vandals See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#...

What was the “happiest place on Earth” before it was Disneyland? And what is it before that? We go back in time today to explore the dark history of the changes of this land from indigenous river people to farmland to massive theme park, and the one tree that survived it all, the Canary Island date palm ( Phoenix canariensis ). Completely Arbortrary is produced and hosted by Casey Clapp and Alex C...

Sweet Neem! That’s right, today we’re talking all things Curry Leaf Tree ( Murraya koenigii ), and all things curry! This Indian tree is one of the most important trees in India, and one of the most delicious. You may even learn a little something about “curry”. Then, we answer a question about kelp! Completely Arbortrary is produced and hosted by Casey Clapp and Alex Crowson Support the pod and b...