What's up, Middle-Earthlings! Casey and I are taking a much-needed break this week, and so we present to you a hilariously massive extended edition episode that includes all three episodes of our Lord of the Tree Rings series, originally published in March of 2022. New episodes starting next week! Take care, everyone. Completely Arbortrary is produced and hosted by Casey Clapp and Alex Crowson Support the pod and become a Treemium Member Follow along on Instagram Find Arbortrary merch on our sto...
Apr 10, 2025•4 hr 10 min•Ep. 120
What makes you happy? Is it money? Or maybe it’s the money tree ( Pachira aquatica ). This famous houseplant is also a forest tree, so why did it become synonymous with feng shui, harmonious qi, and interior design? Then we play a new game of Happy Go Lucky! Completely Arbortrary is produced and hosted by Casey Clapp and Alex Crowson Support the pod and become a Treemium Member Follow along on Instagram Find Arbortrary merch on our store Find additional reading on our website Cover art by Jillia...
Apr 03, 2025•1 hr•Ep. 120
What makes trees weep? Perhaps the answer lies in the aptly named weeping cherry ( Prunus x subhirtella 'Pendula'). Today we talk gravitropism and why some plants just have it backward. Then, we listen to you tree-themed Beatles covers and announce the winner of THE HAT! Completely Arbortrary is produced and hosted by Casey Clapp and Alex Crowson Support the pod and become a Treemium Member Follow along on Instagram Find Arbortrary merch on our store Find additional reading on our website Cover ...
Mar 27, 2025•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 119
What makes you angry? Is it the Jeffrey pine (𝘗𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘴 𝘫𝘦𝘧𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘺𝘪)? Perhaps it’s the smell, a controversial topic among tree lovers that causes all sorts of anger. Completely Arbortrary is produced and hosted by Casey Clapp and Alex Crowson Support the pod and become a Treemium Member Follow along on Instagram Find Arbortrary merch on our store Find additional reading on our website Cover art by Jillian Barthold Music by Aves and The Mini-Vandals See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/p...
Mar 20, 2025•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 118
Why are we so afraid of the silver maple ( Acer saccharinum )? Perhaps because of the risk involved. In today’s episode of Inside Sprout, we discuss tree risk assessment as we ask ourselves the question: if a tree falls, and no one is around to see it, is there any risk? Completely Arbortrary is produced and hosted by Casey Clapp and Alex Crowson Support the pod and become a Treemium Member Follow along on Instagram Find Arbortrary merch on our store Find additional reading on our website Cover ...
Mar 13, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 117
Welcome to Inside Sprout, a 5 part mini-series on trees that best embody and illicit our most basic human emotions. Today we start with disgust and the black locust ( Robinia pseudoacacia ). This tree is almost universally despised for its invasiveness, but has found a very important and loving niche for itself in the woodworking community. Completely Arbortrary is produced and hosted by Casey Clapp and Alex Crowson Support the pod and become a Treemium Member Follow along on Instagram Find Arbo...
Mar 06, 2025•51 min•Ep. 116
Take me out to the ball game… the one where they bounce a solid rubber ( Castilla elastica ) ball between their hips. Today we take it way back for a discussion about rubber (the tree) and rubber (the substance) and an ancient ballgame that’s still played today. Completely Arbortrary is produced and hosted by Casey Clapp and Alex Crowson Support the pod and become a Treemium Member Follow along on Instagram Find Arbortrary merch on our store Find additional reading on our website Cover art by Ji...
Feb 27, 2025•52 min•Ep. 115
The lightest wood there is, the balsa ( Ochroma pyramidale ) is one excited little kid. It grows fast, has ice cream cone flowers, and you can even carry it around on your shoulders! But what gives this tree the ability to grow in such a famous way? Completely Arbortrary is produced and hosted by Casey Clapp and Alex Crowson Support the pod and become a Treemium Member Follow along on Instagram Find Arbortrary merch on our store Find additional reading on our website Cover art by Jillian Barthol...
Feb 20, 2025•47 min•Ep. 114
In the second part of our eco-feminism series, we discuss the Chipko movement, a practical manifestation of eco-feminist ideologies out of India. Author/activist Vandana Shiva makes an appearance, as does the Banj oak ( Quercus leucotrichophora). Then, we play a medieval edition of the Slang Game. Completely Arbortrary is produced and hosted by Casey Clapp and Alex Crowson Support the pod and become a Treemium Member Follow along on Instagram Find Arbortrary merch on our store Find additional re...
Feb 13, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 113
What makes a tree innately "feminine"? We can't explain it, but we can roughly explain eco-feminism, and how it affects our opinions of, and behaviors toward, Mother Nature and the sitka spruce ( Picea sitchensis ). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....
Feb 06, 2025•54 min•Ep. 112
Oh, what fun is the jaboticaba ( Plinia cauliflora ) with it’s curiously growing fruit. Learn about this tree before diving headlong into a discussion about temperate vs. tropical fruit! Who be will victorious? Then, we have not one but TWO taste tests! Completely Arbortrary is produced and hosted by Casey Clapp and Alex Crowson Support the pod and become a Treemium Member Follow along on Instagram Find Arbortrary merch on our store Find additional reading on our website Cover art by Jillian Bar...
Jan 30, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 111
The tree that walks! (not really) The walking palm ( Socratea exorrhiza ) is beloved by Tik-Tok clickbait content creators for its astounding ability to “walk”. But is its fame a double-edged sword? Completely Arbortrary is produced and hosted by Casey Clapp and Alex Crowson Support the pod and become a Treemium Member Follow along on Instagram Find Arbortrary merch on our store Find additional reading on our website Cover art by Jillian Barthold Music by Aves and The Mini-Vandals See Privacy Po...
Jan 23, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 110
ʻŌhiʻa Lehua ( Metrosideros polymorpha ) is Hawaii's most populous tree, and perhaps its most adaptable! For a tree that grows on literal lava flows, this tree has no shortage of interesting qualities that make it one of the most fascinating trees we've ever discussed! Completely Arbortrary is produced and hosted by Casey Clapp and Alex Crowson Support the pod and become a Treemium Member Follow along on Instagram Find Arbortrary merch on our store Find additional reading on our website Cover ar...
Jan 16, 2025•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 109
Happy 2025! Let’s start with a tree so out of time and place that it’s suffering the most endangered situation of any conifer in the world. Then, we play a game that teaches you how to avoid non-tree conversations. Welcome to Season 8. Completely Arbortrary is produced and hosted by Casey Clapp and Alex Crowson Support the pod and become a Treemium Member Follow along on Instagram Find Arbortrary merch on our store Find additional reading on our website Cover art by Jillian Barthold Music by Ave...
Jan 09, 2025•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 108
Today we whittle spoons alongside woodworking gem Justin Davies, and hear about Justin's dos-and-dont's while carving, how he got into the hobby, and where it's taking him next! Completely Arbortrary is produced and hosted by Casey Clapp and Alex Crowson Support the pod and become a Treemium Member Follow along on Instagram Find Arbortrary merch on our store Find additional reading on our website Cover art by Jillian Barthold Music by Aves and The Mini-Vandals See Privacy Policy at https://art19...
Jan 02, 2025•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 107
Merry Christmas! Let’s gather ‘round the Moodjar ( Nuytsia floribunda ). But look out, this fascinating tree has a few quirks that make it an expert parasite. Then we play a game, The Mood Jar! See you 2025. Completely Arbortrary is produced and hosted by Casey Clapp and Alex Crowson Support the pod and become a Treemium Member Follow along on Instagram Find Arbortrary merch on our store Find additional reading on our website Cover art by Jillian Barthold Music by Aves and The Mini-Vandals See P...
Dec 26, 2024•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 106
Only two wise men showed up. But, good news: they brought frankincense ( Boswellia sacra ) and myrrh ( Commiphora myrrha ), two storied plants known for their seemingly endless beneficial properties and their role in the legend of the birth of Jesus. Completely Arbortrary is produced and hosted by Casey Clapp and Alex Crowson Support the pod and become a Treemium Member Follow along on Instagram Find Arbortrary merch on our store Find additional reading on our website Cover art by Jillian Bartho...
Dec 19, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 105
The gumbo-limbo ( Bursera simaruba ) is living that hummock life, and loving every minute of it. This resiliant tree stays low to the ground and says “who cares” to hurricanes, making it a stalwart, understated addition to upland subtropical climes. Then we discuss what happens when billionaires want a better view. Completely Arbortrary is produced and hosted by Casey Clapp and Alex Crowson Support the pod and become a Treemium Member Follow along on Instagram Find Arbortrary merch on our store ...
Dec 12, 2024•59 min•Ep. 104
In an episode heavy with rants and strong opinions, we discuss the yellow birch ( Betula alleghaniensis ). Leafblowers, giant earthworms, and birches all collide in this dense episode of Completely Arbortrary. Then, we answer a question about the most satisfying falling leaves. Completely Arbortrary is produced and hosted by Casey Clapp and Alex Crowson Support the pod and become a Treemium Member Follow along on Instagram Find Arbortrary merch on our store Find additional reading on our website...
Dec 05, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 103
Would you like a cup of tea? Try the gourd herb ( Ilex paraguariensis ), a tropical tree famous for its massive contribution to the world of drinkables. Completely Arbortrary is produced and hosted by Casey Clapp and Alex Crowson Support the pod and become a Treemium Member Follow along on Instagram Find Arbortrary merch on our store Find additional reading on our website Cover art by Jillian Barthold Music by Aves and The Mini-Vandals See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Californ...
Nov 28, 2024•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 102
Life goes on... and on... and on... for the curlleaf mountain-mahogany ( Cercocarpus ledifolius ). What can we learn from this long-lived, tough-as-nails tree? Then, we take a listener question about fallen trees! Completely Arbortrary is produced and hosted by Casey Clapp and Alex Crowson Support the pod and become a Treemium Member Follow along on Instagram Find Arbortrary merch on our store Find additional reading on our website Cover art by Jillian Barthold Music by Aves and The Mini-Vandals...
Nov 21, 2024•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 101
In the second of our “odd Pine family distant cousins” we talk Keteleeria ( Keteleeria davidiana ), and the perfect pocket of China where this and many other species call home. Completely Arbortrary is produced and hosted by Casey Clapp and Alex Crowson Support the pod and become a Treemium Member Follow along on Instagram Find Arbortrary merch on our store Find additional reading on our website Cover art by Jillian Barthold Music by Aves and The Mini-Vandals See Privacy Policy at https://art19....
Nov 14, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 100
In this episode, we explore the golden-larch ( Pseudolarix amabilis ), a unique member of the pine family that feels a bit like the “weird cousin at the Pine family picnic.” Once native to the Arctic, this deciduous conifer now grows exclusively in specific regions of China, adapting over millennia to its new home. We also dive into a listener question about variegated leaves and why some plants sport these striking patterns. Completely Arbortrary is produced and hosted by Casey Clapp and Alex C...
Nov 07, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 99
WARNING: This is not a mango. Do not eat this non-mango, this Lord of Lies, this Great Deceiver, for it is the sea-mango ( Cerbera manghas ) and it absolutely will kill you. The story is a little more complicated, however, as this tree provides an undeniably invaluable resource... but is it worth the risk? Completely Arbortrary is produced and hosted by Casey Clapp and Alex Crowson Support the pod and become a Treemium Member Follow along on Instagram Find Arbortrary merch on our store Find addi...
Oct 31, 2024•59 min•Ep. 98
In this episode, we explore Australia’s infamous giant stinging tree ( Dendrocnide moroides ) and its neurotoxic hairs that cause agonizing pain. How fun(?)! Completely Arbortrary is produced and hosted by Casey Clapp and Alex Crowson Support the pod and become a Treemium Member Follow along on Instagram Find Arbortrary merch on our store Find additional reading on our website Cover art by Jillian Barthold Music by Aves and The Mini-Vandals See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Cal...
Oct 24, 2024•1 hr•Ep. 97
Join us as we get weird with the Boojum tree ( Fouquieria columnaris ), a quirky desert oddball with some fascinating parenchyma. Plus, Casey reads an interminably long Lewis Carroll poem that gave this tree its name. Completely Arbortrary is produced and hosted by Casey Clapp and Alex Crowson Support the pod and become a Treemium Member Follow along on Instagram Find Arbortrary merch on our store Find additional reading on our website Cover art by Jillian Barthold Music by Aves and The Mini-Van...
Oct 17, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 96
Join us on a mysterious journey through time to discuss the Munz oak ( Quercus x munzii ), a curious hybrid of UNKNOWN ORIGIN! Completely Arbortrary is produced and hosted by Casey Clapp and Alex Crowson Support the pod and become a Treemium Member Follow along on Instagram Find Arbortrary merch on our store Find additional reading on our website Cover art by Jillian Barthold Music by Aves and The Mini-Vandals See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https...
Oct 10, 2024•58 min•Ep. 95
Join us for an afternoon chat under this gorgeous Western sycamore ( Platanus racemosa ) and hear about what Casey and Alex and reflecting on lately. Completely Arbortrary is produced and hosted by Casey Clapp and Alex Crowson Support the pod and become a Treemium Member Follow along on Instagram Find Arbortrary merch on our store Find additional reading on our website Cover art by Jillian Barthold Music by Aves and The Mini-Vandals See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California ...
Oct 03, 2024•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 94
Dam! Let’s talk about them, and about the China-fir ( Cunninghamia lanceolata ) and the ingenious agroforestry methods of the Kam people of China. Completely Arbortrary is produced and hosted by Casey Clapp and Alex Crowson Support the pod and become a Treemium Member Follow along on Instagram Find Arbortrary merch on our store Find additional reading on our website Cover art by Jillian Barthold Music by Aves and The Mini-Vandals See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Pri...
Sep 26, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 93
The Fabulous, Funny, Smart, and Warm woman we all love, ALIE WARD graces the podcast today. We can hardly believe it. Alie was a very important part of the early success of Completely Arbortrary and we forever admire her! Among many other job titles, Alie is the host and creator of Ologies ! Please enjoy. Completely Arbortrary is produced and hosted by Casey Clapp and Alex Crowson Support the pod and become a Treemium Member Follow along on Instagram Find Arbortrary merch on our store Find addit...
Sep 19, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 92
