The Cherry Tree Dilemma: Mindfulness, Complexity and Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK)

  In attachment blossoms fall, in aversion weeds spread. Dogen, Genjo Koan (1233 CE) Smack in the middle of the back yard is a non-native, very short tree that, when I moved in, looked like a dwarf, would-be weeping willow. Scraggly, neglected, it stood just over five feet high, and its branches hung down to the ground all around. It took up a fair amount of space; of course nothing grew in its shade. I did recognize it: a weeping cherry—not a naturally grown specimen of one of the beautiful Japanese varieties, but a “frankentree,” which, as Brian Funk of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden has written, “are the flowering cherries on sale at home improvement stores” that “look like mops, or umbrellas, or octopus trees.” They are created when “weeping cherry branches… are grafted onto a straight trunk that was cut off at five feet tall.”  Well yes, exactly. Not only was it ungainly, but: what was the point of its existence, and what good would it do?  I mentally tagged it for rem...

Rambling around the Web

Three weeks ago Diana at Elephant's Eye posted Ten Fine Blogs on her fine blog. Inspired by that post, but not nearly so good at manipulating internet images, I have done sort of the same thing, only different.

So here goes, twelve sites, not all gardening related.

Before we start, I'd like to commend to you the blogs featured on my sidebar; some post often, some don't, but all are worth visiting for one reason or another.

Blotanical is a network that feels like home. When I started blogging last March, experienced Blotanical bloggers made sure I felt welcomed. Now, every so often I go and welcome new Blotanical bloggers.

Here are two popular Blotanical blogs:



I visit Town Mouse and Country Mouse  in California to see completely different terrain and native plants than I'm used to in Illinois.







I only visited Ink and Penstemon, a fine combination of pictures and writing by Susan in the Pink Hat, for the first time the other day. She gardens in Utah. I'll return frequently.


Here are two newish Blotanical blogs:


Orchid grower Orchid de dangau is from Malaysia and takes part in orchid shows. He takes beautiful photos of amazing plants.


Mud Pie from Australia, by Ali, a vegetable gardener whose blog feels like a sunshiny day.


I also belong to Nature Blog Network, full of blogs by scientists and nature lovers. When I browse around there, I always learn something. Here are two:


The Green Ogre features nature photography from India by SR, DeepWithin, Arun and Beej.


Culturing Science - Biology as relevant to us earthly beings: science writing from Philadelphia, PA by Hannah Waters.


Then sometimes I'm just wandering, lost in cyberspace.


I'm not sure how I found Via Negativa , based in Pennsylvania, but I return for the poetry and musings by Dave Bonta.


One day, when I was reading Vicious: Wolves and Men in America, by Jon T. Coleman (Yale, 2006), an environmental history, I Googled "wolves and elk" and found New West,  a new-style news media site based in Montana.


When I'm feeling serious I go to Energy Bulletin, a spicy stew of news and opinion from around the world involving everything to do with the environment, peak oil, climate change and sustainable living. They are kind enough to let me cross post some of my relevant essays.



Sometimes I think about indoor things.


The Style Files is full of beautiful modern interiors and design from  Danielle de Lange in the Netherlands.


I found Colour Me Happy when trying to decide what color to paint my bedroom. Maria Killam is based in British Columbia.


When I want to know more about the craft of blogging,


I return home to Chicago's very own Mr. Brown Thumb, who writes very helpful posts about blogging issues at Garden Bloggers.   



Comments

Diana Studer said…
I'm off to colour me happy ;~)

All quiet for weeks, then today I got the Five Books from Barbara in Mannheim, and these blogs from you!
Wow, thanks for the link. I'm so flattered. Feeling unworthy of such notice is something of a hallmark around here. I await for the day when I'm discovered and everyone realizes that I really have no idea what I'm doing! The indoor links are tempting. Except, I always get annoyed when books are arranged by color. I'm too much of a group-books-by-subject person.
Hi EE, oh gosh, five books? That's tempting.


Hi Hannah, thanks for visiting. I enjoy reading your blog.

Hi Susan,
I know what you mean--I share that feeling. I'm also a books-by-subject person. The books really are not representative of the engaging design featured in that blog.
Town Mouse said…
Thanks for the visit and the link! I had to chuckle about your comment, unfortunately our gardens look worst in late summer, and we can't cover them up with snow (in fact, we never get snow). But fortunately, my garden is fairly small so I can soft of keep up, at least in the front.
Don Plummer said…
Adrian:
I finally got around to posting another blog on The Trillium Patch. I think you might enjoy it.

Don

http://thetrilliumpatch.blogspot.com/2011/01/winter-hikes.html
Hi Town Mouse, You're welcome. Late summer mess serves its ecological purpose; we just have to adapt.

That's good to hear, Don. I'll stop by and read it.