The Life, Death and Rebirth of the Perfect Tree
Disasters are not always big loud booming events. Some are silent, protracted affairs that can take generations to manifest. The story of a disaster is the stuff journalists live off of. After all, none of us can keep our eyes off a trainwreck, no matter how horrible, and someone is going to tell the story.
Susan Freinkel’s new book from UC Press is more than just good solid journalism. It’s a story that affects all of us. The American chestnut , Castanea dentata , was the keystone species of most of Eastern North America up until about a century ago. This tale of death and rebirth is inspiring. We’re going to have a public conversation tonight at the the Book Bay at Fort Mason in San Francisco. I’m looking forward to getting her take on how this story can tell us something here in California about our own Sudden Oak Death (mocking acronymed “SOD”) and that pesky Phtophtera ramorum that is gaining the upper hand in the oak drama. Stay tuned…. and if you havent yet picked up Susan’s book, grab it. It’s a fine piece of work. Trust.
Gardens with Benefits 
Wow, Susan is so knowledgeable, and such a great person. One of the stories she tells is about how chestnuts are used in Bach Flower Remedies for depression. Can you imagine the sense of loss when all those trees went away? Her book is an amazing piece of research.. but it begs the question: what happens when this tree is reintroduced into its former habitat?