This is just fabulous. I love seeing how "life" has been represented, explained using tree-like structures over the centuries. What an amazing set of stories, Anne. I will need to re-read this. Saved.
Ah, so it wasn't needed — but one never knows, and it always seems better to make links just in case useful. Posted a comment there about a time when the original tree of life sketch was on display in Boston, and that made me think of this excellent essay.
I felt the same kind of enthusiasm the day I saw a pair of illuminated lungs and neurons- tees of life within me. And then there was the ancient persons view of trees- kingdoms as trees and family tribes as branches and then the reproduced leaves and the grafting and pruning effects. The ancients didn’t need Darwin or X-rays to tell them these things
In case you haven’t read it yet, I loved Jude Piesse’s book ‘The Ghost in the Garden: In Search of Darwin’s Lost Garden’. It’s completely unique, and a wonderful blend of biography, nature-writing, local history, and memoir.
Love this. Yes! I would love to read profiles of plant families. My brain hungers for categories, organizing principles, the connections between all sorts of families of things. I love to discover same in language/cognates, too, just fascinating.
'like' doesn't cover it. I'm only part easy through and loving it, immersing in the joy and the echoing relationships. I'm savouring more for later.
I also have a book I think you'd love. If I can find it I'll take some photos.
Couldn’t agree more.
Have a couple of Laotian Tree of Life pictures which we picked up in Luang Prabang which are treasured possessions
I would love to see them! I think a post purely about Tree of Life art would be 👌
Will send you pics
Okay. Finished. Loved it. Disappointed there wasn't more.
So glad to hear this Peter! I certainly will be writing more :) Stay tuned!
Anne,
I'm wondering if you've seen this? It mentions Haekel's tree.
https://orionmagazine.org/article/what-slime-knows/
That’s delightful, thanks so much for sharing!
It's a good one. Glad you enjoyed it.
Oh. My. Goodness.
This is just fabulous. I love seeing how "life" has been represented, explained using tree-like structures over the centuries. What an amazing set of stories, Anne. I will need to re-read this. Saved.
So glad you share my fascination Debs! Thank you!
This is fascinating, and as a non-scientist, a real education. The diversity of what's in a plant family is amazing. Now I've run out of superlatives!
Thank you Linda!
Late to the party here — but this one is a keeper. Thanks, Anne!
Thank you Bryan!!
Ah, so it wasn't needed — but one never knows, and it always seems better to make links just in case useful. Posted a comment there about a time when the original tree of life sketch was on display in Boston, and that made me think of this excellent essay.
Of course, thanks for sharing—others may stumble on it here too.
Ooh very cool about the tree of life sketch in Boston!
By the way, in case of interest: https://open.substack.com/pub/akennedysmith/p/susannah-wedgwood-darwin-1765-1817?r=2u2cxe&utm_medium=ios
Ah yes, a nice historical crossover—have been meaning to read since I subscribe to Ann! Thanks for the reminder :)
Fascinating I also liked Twelve Trees by Daniel Lewis Thanks for a great read.
I felt the same kind of enthusiasm the day I saw a pair of illuminated lungs and neurons- tees of life within me. And then there was the ancient persons view of trees- kingdoms as trees and family tribes as branches and then the reproduced leaves and the grafting and pruning effects. The ancients didn’t need Darwin or X-rays to tell them these things
Beautiful 🌳
In case you haven’t read it yet, I loved Jude Piesse’s book ‘The Ghost in the Garden: In Search of Darwin’s Lost Garden’. It’s completely unique, and a wonderful blend of biography, nature-writing, local history, and memoir.
I haven’t, thanks for the recommendation! Going on the list :)
Saw this just after posting below, so will post again here — there's a nice discussion of that (or something similar) here: https://open.substack.com/pub/akennedysmith/p/susannah-wedgwood-darwin-1765-1817?r=2u2cxe&utm_medium=ios
(Not my newsletter; just that reading it reminded me of this essay)
Fun coincidence!
Anne, this is masterful, stupendously good. I love it so very much, thank you.
Alex! This warms my soul! Thank you!
Thank YOU for writing and sharing such an excellent piece. It really hit the spot and has stayed in my head since reading. Wonderful!
And I’m excited for you to experience the street art story, when you have time! And to get your thoughts on it too.
The best encouragement I could receive!
PS I WILL catch up with your other posts too, especially the graffiti one, very much looking forward to wrangling a bit of time to do so!
The memory palace! Wonderful.
Love this. Yes! I would love to read profiles of plant families. My brain hungers for categories, organizing principles, the connections between all sorts of families of things. I love to discover same in language/cognates, too, just fascinating.
Hooray! And yes me too, it’s somehow so deeply satisfying to gradually fill out these networks of connections and logic in my brain!
A lovely and informative post!
I love this! “Schrodinger’s bryophytes” . . . 💚
Totally agree