Quote Originally Posted by catherine View Post
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.