This Old Tree

Episódios

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  The Washington Monument Mulberry 10.08.2026 1h 2min

  A lone mulberry tree stands beside the Washington Monument. It is curious, unexpected, and impossible to ignore once you notice it. Who planted it? Is it historic? Is it one tree or two? Why is it preserved, when there is no other tree on the immediate grounds? D.C. tree tour guide Sam Nelson chased down the answers, found in a 2014 government report. The author is landscape historian Jonathan Pliska, who also wrote A Garden for the President: A History of the White House Gardens. ...
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  Kongeegen, or "The King's Oak" 13.07.2026 59min

  Kongeegen, or the 1,500 year old “King’s Oak,” is deep inside a forest called Jægerspris Nordskov in Denmark. The tree is named after 19th century King Frederik VII, who owned a nearby castle with his wife, the Countess Danner. It is a national treasure and one of northern Europe’s oldest living oak trees. Getting there meant a two-mile hike through the woods with guests Anders Jensen of the Danish Tree Association and forest historian Helle Serup of The Green Museum. They tell the bio...
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  Sa Melabrina and Sardinia's Monumental Trees 05.05.2026 1h 2min

  Sa Melabrina is a Downy Oak tree the size of a small church, draped in moss and ferns. Her ancient arms spread wide in the surrounding forest near Illorai, Sardinia. She's the oldest and largest of her kind in all of Europe. And she's been standing here in these mountains for nine centuries. What she symbolizes is even greater than her beauty. The town’s mayor organized a remarkable conference drawing scientists, conservationists, and community leaders from across Sardinia and beyond, all uni...
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  On Defense: Estonia's Stadium Oak 31.12.2025 1h 4min

  In the small Estonian town of Orissaare, football players dribble around a 150-year-old oak tree standing impossibly in the middle of their soccer field or "stadium." What seems like a quirky local oddity became a symbol of national pride when this tree won the 2015 European Tree of the Year, beating much larger countries like Hungary, Spain, and the UK. How did an unknown Estonian oak outcompete all of Europe? The answer involves brilliant PR, ancient folklore, a fierce independence forged ...
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  Arborists Live: Our Tree Stories 27.11.2025 1h

  What happens when six arborists come down from the trees to step behind the mic? Find out by listening to this special episode of stories by tree professionals told LIVE in front of an audience at the annual conference of the New England Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture. Where does the adrenaline come from? What barriers have been climbed? What drives them, ropes and harness in hand? Hear what arborists say about defining moments in their careers, their struggles, ...
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  The General Sherman Tree: First Encounters 27.10.2025 1h 8min

  High up in California's Sierra Nevada mountains stands the largest tree on earth by volume - the General Sherman Tree. The famous giant sequoia has captivated millions of visitors, but few know the rich tapestry of stories woven around its massive trunk. Join us as we explore the “Giant Forest” of Sequoia National Park with former park ranger and author William C. Tweed. From the indigenous Monache and Yokuts who first walked among these giants, to ambitious Euro-American explorers like John ...
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  S'Ozzastru and the Ancient Olive Trees of Sardinia 24.08.2025 1h 5min

  Some trees are old — and then there's S’Ozzastru. Nestled near the village of Luras on the island of Sardinia, this ancient olive tree has stood for nearly 4,000 years. Also known as "The Great Patriarch" or "The Patriarch of Nature," the bronze age tree is a living witness to the rise and fall of civilizations. How has it endured for millennia? Who, across the centuries, has found shelter beneath its branches? And will the millennial olive trees of Sardinia continue to survive? Join us as we...
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  The Ginkgo at Gu Guanyin Buddhist Temple 19.05.2025 1h 4min

  Have you seen those breathtaking aerial photos of a solitary ginkgo tree in a courtyard, its leaves creating a perfect golden carpet of fallen leaves? This isn't just any tree—it's a 1,400-year-old living witness to history, standing tall within the walls of China's Gu Guanyin Buddhist Temple. While its stunning autumn transformation goes viral online each year, the story behind this magnificent being remains largely unknown to Western audiences. Why was this particular tree planted at this p...
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  Tree Story Shorts IV 24.02.2025 45min

  Welcome to the fourth edition of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, where guests get to tell their own tree stories! Salacious pepper trees, historic oaks, a tree named after a Marvel character, a beech tree's farewell at a college reunion, big tree hunters, an old growth tulip poplar in Queens, a neighborhood ash tree in Amsterdam, and the largest tree at Kew Gardens - this episode has it all. Listen to what people have to say about the trees that inspire them. Guests Stephanie Carrie Sc...
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  India's Kabirvad Banyan Tree 05.02.2025 1h 20min

  Meet Kabirvad, a 500 yr-old, 4 acre banyan tree in the heart of Gujarat, India. The spectacular tree is a national treasure associated with Saint Kabir, a 15th century mystic poet known for his timeless poetry. He challenged institutions, religions and social convention. Who was he, and how is his legend tied to a banyan tree? Journey to India to learn about Kabirvad. In understanding the tree, you may find the essence of Kabir himself. Guests Prof. Srinivas Reddy Guest Professor, Humanities ...
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  London's Charlton House Mulberry 18.11.2024 1h 1min

  Did you know the British are mad about mulberries? A 415 yr-old black mulberry tree stands at Charlton House & Gardens, the oldest specimen in London and highly beloved. Its story involves King James I and a courtier named Sir Adam Newton, the tutor to the King's eldest son Henry. It also involves a government decree gone awry. Guests Peter Coles Author, Mulberry Morus Londinium Dr. Stella Butler Trustee, Royal Greenwich Heritage Trust Chair, Charlton & Blackheath Amateur Hort...
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  Saving Seeds: Bartram's Franklin Tree 07.10.2024 1h 2min

  John Bartram was a Quaker farmer near Philadelphia in the mid 18th century. So how did he become North America's first great botanist? And how did he and his son William find themselves in the wilds of southeastern Georgia, fighting off rain, hunger and mosquitos, in order to find the rare and beautiful Franklin Tree (Franklinia alatamaha)? Come hear the story about why this tree at Bartram's Garden symbolizes the spirit of science and discovery. Guest Tom Reber Director of Landscape and Fa...
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  The Tree That Owns Itself 28.04.2024 1h 1min

  Legend has it that Col. William H. Jackson of Athens, Georgia loved his old white oak tree very much. So much, that he created a deed for the tree and the land immediately surrounding it, giving ownership unto itself. Could it be possible? Who owns a tree? The answers aren't always as simple as they may appear. Guests Mateo Fennell Community Forestry Coordinator Athens-Clarke County Unified Government Athens, GA https://www.accgov.com/274/Community-Forestry James Komen Consul...
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  The Mariner and the Mulberry 28.02.2024 55min

  A large old mulberry tree at Truro Vineyards on Cape Cod comes with a legend. A sea captain brought it back from the South Pacific and planted it for his young wife. Or his girlfriend. Or someone named Amelia. Is this story true? Who was the captain, and what became of him? Come along to open dusty books, unfurl old maps, and decide what you think. Guests Kristen Roberts Owner Truro Vineyards Truro, MA Ken MacPhee Arborist Representative Bartlett Tree Experts Orleans, MA Janice Pelosi ...
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  Tree Story Shorts III 08.01.2024 35min

  Here's the third edition of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, where guests get to tell their own tree stories! Charles Darwin, bride and groom trees, a massive American elm in Illinois, Al Capone, original tree-inspired music, a tree used for meetings at an army base, a moving story from war-torn Ukraine - this episode has it all. Listen to what people have to say about the trees that inspire them. Guests Rob McBride The Tree Hunter Ellesmere, Shropshire, U.K. Instagram Georgia Barnhill...
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  Europe's 2023 Tree of the Year: The Fabrykant Oak 13.12.2023 1h 1min

  The Fabrykant Oak, translated as the "Factory Owner's Oak," received 45,000 votes to become Europe's Tree of the Year. Located in Łódź, it captures the hearts of people in its home country of Poland and around the world. Full of personality and stunningly beautiful, the story of this Quercus robur strikes deep into the city's culture and history. How does an old tree overcome the past to become a symbol of rebirth and a brighter future? Guests Adam Golub Project Manager and Brussels R...
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  The Emancipation Oak 13.11.2023 1h 9min

  A 300 yr-old Live Oak tree on the campus of Hampton University in Virginia stuns visitors with its strength and beauty. It’s also an enduring symbol of a watershed moment in American history - the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation during the Civil War, which freed enslaved people in the rebel states. How could a tree play a role in that momentous event, at least locally? What did emancipation truly mean to African-Americans in 1863? How does the tree still inspire the hearts and ima...
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  The Autograph Tree 11.10.2023 1h 2min

  A stunning copper beech tree in Ireland’s County Galway attracts tourists from around the world. Lady Gregory was its owner, and she drew legendary writers of her day to her house and garden at Coole Park - William Butler Yeats, George Bernard Shaw, and others. If they were lucky, they were allowed to etch their names into the bark of what’s now known as the Autograph Tree. Learn the full story steeped in Irish literary history. Guests Jenni McGuire Head Guide, Coole Park Nature Reserve Gort...
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  Trees in Song: Season 1 Finale 08.09.2023 57min

  This season 1 recap features thematic highlights from the first 18 episodes, Doug's favorite songs about trees, and an interview with Dee Lee, arborist and songwriter! Featured Songs and Artists Redwood Tree, Van Morrison Saint Dominick's Preview, 1972 Warner Bros, Inc. English Trees, Crowded House Time on Earth, 2007 Parlophone & ATO Records Trees, Louis Armstrong & George Jenkins and His Orchestra (Lyrics from Trees by Joyce Kilmer) 1954 Big Yellow Taxi, Joni Mitchell L...
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  Texas Shade: The Founders' Oak 03.08.2023 59min

  The Founders' Oak in New Braunfels is a "Famous Tree of Texas." The 300 yr-old live oak has given shelter to a Spanish Mission, a German Prince who brought thousands of settlers, old Texas families that date back to the Alamo, and the Comanche Nation. Its cultural history is rich, and includes a new designation as a "Comanche Marker Tree." What is it about this tree's history that mirrors the founding of Texas itself? Co-Host Emily King Urban Forester, Community Tree Preservation Division Ci...