The Daily Peeve / Rant

[iris lilies]

UL, interesting that you said fruit trees don’t live a long time. We bought our house 8 years ago with 3 mature fruit trees.

Generally speaking, small fruit trees do not live as long as big hardwood trees. It takes 15-20 years for a high quality hardwood to reach youthful maturity.

There is no “one size fits all” life span for the generic class of fruit trees.

I don’t care about being politically correct when it comes to treeism! Haha. And well, you all brought it up! So whatcha think about this tree sexism problem detailed in Scientific American? I blame not so much trees themselves as the tree loving professionals who think they know everything:

https://blogs.scientificamerican.com...own-allergies/

tldr: urban and exurban foresters have planted way too many male trees because they do not drop messy fruit. But they add air pollution in their excessive pollen, making humans sick. Hmmmmm...

[Teacher Terry]

We have a apple, pear and apricot tree. Most years we warm up too soon and they flower. Then we get a freeze which means little fruit gets mature so I pick up nasty small fruit all summer. We even tried hanging lights to keep them warm. I would love to cut them down because of the never ending mess.

[catherine]

Generally speaking, small fruit trees do not live as long as big hardwood trees. It takes 15-20 years for a high quality hardwood to reach youthful maturity.

There is no “one size fits all” life span for the generic class of fruit trees.

I don’t care about being politically correct when it comes to treeism! Haha. And well, you all brought it up! So whatcha think about this tree sexism problem detailed in Scientific American? I blame not so much trees themselves as the tree loving professionals who think they know everything:

https://blogs.scientificamerican.com...own-allergies/

tldr: urban and exurban foresters have planted way too many male trees because they do not drop messy fruit. But they add air pollution in their excessive pollen, making humans sick. Hmmmmm...

And what about the stinky female gingko trees? More discrimination there!

Honestly, for me it comes down to some growing feeling that I don't want to be civilized. The word "culture" or "cultivar" says to me "Just leave nature as it is!" Why do we need to mess with it? Why is a silver maple so QUALITATIVELY DIFFERENT than a sugar maple? Since I have been highly "cultured" as a white privileged elite for over 60 years this has been a huge identify shake-up for me.

So, in answer to your question about the Scientific American article, it's ridiculous.

[JaneV2.0]

And what about the stinky female gingko trees? More discrimination there!

Honestly, for me it comes down to some growing feeling that I don't want to be civilized. The word "culture" or "cultivar" says to me "Just leave nature as it is!" Why do we need to mess with it? Why is a silver maple so QUALITATIVELY DIFFERENT than a sugar maple? Since I have been highly "cultured" as a white privileged elite for over 60 years this has been a huge identify shake-up for me.

So, in answer to your question about the Scientific American article, it's ridiculous.

I have very similar views to yours. In general, I prefer nature to nurture when it comes to plants.

[pinkytoe]

I was thinking about how like everything else, gardening has gotten way more complicated than it needs to be. The array of soils and products for one's plants is mind-boggling. I wonder how it is that pioneers planted food crops, flowers and trees over a hundred years ago wherever they settled without all of these products. I never would have planted one and I don't know who did but the pussywillow in my yard is an amazing plant. It is 12 feet tall and has survived both 0 and high-90 temps without any fuss. Right now, it is covered with blossoms. The bees, birds and squirrels love it.

[rosarugosa]

I was thinking about how like everything else, gardening has gotten way more complicated than it needs to be. The array of soils and products for one's plants is mind-boggling. I wonder how it is that pioneers planted food crops, flowers and trees over a hundred years ago wherever they settled without all of these products. I never would have planted one and I don't know who did but the pussywillow in my yard is an amazing plant. It is 12 feet tall and has survived both 0 and high-90 temps without any fuss. Right now, it is covered with blossoms. The bees, birds and squirrels love it.

That was sort of a rant that segued into a rave!

[herbgeek]

Why does everything for the home have to have such a strong smell? While I use unscented clothes detergent, when I'm out walking I can smell people's clothes well after I've past them. It makes me gag.

Today I went and shampooed the rug in our guest room/yoga and weight lifting room. It was starting to smell like feet. The rug shampoo smell is so much worse! I had the window open all day and the room still stinks. I preferred the feet.

Even the dishwasher detergent has a smell. And now garbage bags have a scent, and I have to look carefully to make sure I get the unscented ones.

I don't need all these extra chemicals in my house!

[Teacher Terry]

I have asthma so can’t have anything scented. My kids accidentally bought scented garbage bags and had to put the kitchen garbage can outside when I come. It was so strong it’s ridiculous. They hate the smell.

[Gardnr]

Why does everything for the home have to have such a strong smell? While I use unscented clothes detergent, when I'm out walking I can smell people's clothes well after I've past them. It makes me gag.

Today I went and shampooed the rug in our guest room/yoga and weight lifting room. It was starting to smell like feet. The rug shampoo smell is so much worse! I had the window open all day and the room still stinks. I preferred the feet.

Even the dishwasher detergent has a smell. And now garbage bags have a scent, and I have to look carefully to make sure I get the unscented ones.

I don't need all these extra chemicals in my house!

I use organic unscented everything...except my peppermint tea tree oil liquid hand soap.

[iris lilies]

And what about the stinky female gingko trees? More discrimination there!

Honestly, for me it comes down to some growing feeling that I don't want to be civilized. The word "culture" or "cultivar" says to me "Just leave nature as it is!" Why do we need to mess with it? Why is a silver maple so QUALITATIVELY DIFFERENT than a sugar maple? Since I have been highly "cultured" as a white privileged elite for over 60 years this has been a huge identify shake-up for me.

So, in answer to your question about the Scientific American article, it's ridiculous.

Silver maples are qualitatively different for purposes of suburban living. Sure, that is a human centric value. We are part of the civilized human race whether we want to feel that way or not. Improving our environment with appropriate selection of mother nature‘s offerings is just common sense.


Each time you and Jane mow your lawn or weed your place you destroy tiny tree seedlings. Clear cutting on a tiny scale! Haha.