This Old Tree

Doug Still
  • 4.9 (59)
  • Nature

Old trees are awe inspiring links to the past that fire our imagination. What are their stories? Seasoned arborist and amateur historian Doug Still interviews local experts, historians, and community people to celebrate the myths and uncover the real tales. If you're a tree lover, join in to look "beyond the plaque" at heritage trees and the human stories behind them. 

  1. 4d ago

    El Árbol del Tule: Oaxaca's Axis Mundi

    In the small town of Santa María del Tule, in the heart of Oaxaca, Mexico, stands a Montezuma Cypress more than 2,000 years old. Its trunk is considered the widest of any tree on Earth. For over a millennium, the Tule Tree has drawn visitors: the Zapotec, Mixe, and Mixtec peoples who revered it, Spanish colonizers, and traders from across Mesoamerica. Today, travelers from around the world make it a tourist destination. In this episode, host Doug Still sits down in the tree's shade with the town's mayor, members of the Tule Tree Committee, and arborists from the Mexican Association of Arboriculture. A local historian shares the town's long story, and we hear the legend of King Kondoy, the hero whose planted staff became the tree. But this giant is about more than size. How is it the guiding light of the community? What is an axis mundi? And what do the people of Tule sacrifice to keep the famous tree alive? Guests Antonio Vásquez Vásquez Historian and Author, Santa María del Tule: Una revisión histórica Santa María del Tule, Mexico Tule Tree Committee, Santa Mariá del Tule Fabián Santiago Bautista, Mayor Roberto Peralta Vásquez, President Abel Ramirez, Chronicler of the Tree Hilda Méndez Ibáñez Jocelyn Soto Mengol Germán Miguel Martin Méndez Omar Jardin Vásquez Víctor Velasco López Arborist and President Asociación Mexicana de Arboricultura (AMA) Aurora Torres Arborist Asociación Mexicana de Arboricultura (AMA) Fernando Aldahir Ramírez Ángeles Oaxacan friend and Tour Guide torchbearermx@gmail.com Oaxaca City, Mexico Reading "Leyenda del Rey Kondoy" or "The Legend of King Kondoy" Traditional (Mixe) Adaptation by Jessica Paolo Martínez José Instituto Nacional de los Pueblos Indígenas Voiceover Artists Marta Martínez, Rhode Island Latino Arts Alejandra Ruelas, Casa Azul Tacquería Ángel Vásquez Gómez Robb Barnard Ed Nardell References Santa María del Tule: Una revisión histórica, Antonio Vásquez Vásquez, 2025. Live Music Banda Indomable de Oaxaca Mariachi mi País Band of the 28th Military Zone Special thanks Candace Powning Diana Marchal  Theme Music "This Old Tree," Diccon Lee, www.deeleetree.com Artwork Dahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/home Website thisoldtree.show Transcripts available. Follow on Facebook or Instagram This Old Tree podcast is a sponsored project of the New England Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture. To support This Old Tree and New England ISA, click here. We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~4 or 5 minute  audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone’s voice memo app and email to: doug@thisoldtree.net This episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org

    El Árbol del Tule: Oaxaca's Axis Mundi

  2. Aug 10

    The Washington Monument Mulberry

    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.  In celebration of America's 250th birthday, host Doug Still hands the mic to Sam and Jonathan for a conversation that explores the mysteries of this mulberry tree next to our iconic national monument. The story involves several early champions of 19th century horticulture, and the history of the National Mall itself. Guests Sam Nelson Writer, Educator, Naturalist Tree Stories, LLC Jonathan Pliska Author and Landscape Historian A Garden for the President: A History of the White House Gardens References Historic American Landscape Survey (HALS), National Park Service (website) Music "The Dying Poet," Louis Moreau Gottschalk, 1863 Played by Jim Rice Photo credit Sam Nelson Theme Music "This Old Tree," Diccon Lee, www.deeleetree.com Artwork Dahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/home Website thisoldtree.show Transcripts available. Follow on Facebook or Instagram This Old Tree podcast is a sponsored project of the New England Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture. To support This Old Tree and New England ISA, click here. We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~4 or 5 minute  audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone’s voice memo app and email to: doug@thisoldtree.net This episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org

    The Washington Monument Mulberry

  3. Jul 13

    Kongeegen, or "The King's Oak"

    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 biological story of Kongeegen, and how Denmark sees its forests.  But there is also a love story - a tangled affair between the unconventional Frederik, the Countess Danner (aka Louise Rasmussen), and a wealthy newspaper publisher named Carl Berling. The Countess's own love letters embellish this true story from her point of view - scandal, romance, and all  - and how it led them to seek shelter from the rain under this ancient oak. Guests Helle Serup Curator, Det Grønne Museum (The Green Museum) Auning, Denmark Anders Jensen Vice Chairman Dansk Træplejeforening (The Danish Tree Care Association) Reading "Beneath Kongeegen" by Doug Still and Ida Zecco, read by Ida Zecco and Martha Douglas-Osmundson (Louise Rasmussen's letters) References "Din hengivnes Louise": Louise Rasmussens breve til Carl Berling og kronprins/kong Frederik VII, 1844-1850." Ved Pernille Arenfeldt og Pernille Hasselsteen. Kong Frederik VII's Stiftelse Paa Jægerspris, Forlaget Fremad,  Music "La Sylphide, Music for the Bournonville ballet" by Herman Severin Løvenskiold. Royal Danish Orchestra, Chandos Records, 1991. Special thanks Dansk Træplejeforening Robb Barnard Ed Nardell Theme Music "This Old Tree," Diccon Lee, www.deeleetree.com Artwork Dahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/home Website thisoldtree.show Transcripts available. Follow on Facebook or Instagram This Old Tree podcast is a sponsored project of the New England Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture. To support This Old Tree and New England ISA, click here. We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~4 or 5 minute  audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone’s voice memo app and email to: doug@thisoldtree.net This episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org

    Kongeegen, or "The King's Oak"

  4. May 5

    Sa Melabrina and Sardinia's Monumental Trees

    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 united around a single idea: that Sardinia's ancient trees, its oldest living landmarks, could form a network worth protecting, visiting, and fighting for. There is something else at stake. Sardinia's small towns are quietly shrinking. Depopulation is hollowing out villages that have survived for millennia. Saving these old trees is vital, but Sardinia's leaders ask a new type of question: Can Sa Melabrina and Sardinia’s monumental trees save its small towns? Guests Gianluca Grande, Mayor Illorai, Sardinia Dr. Gianluigi Bacchetta Professor, Department of Life and Environmental Sciences Director, Centre for the Conservation of Biodiversity and Germplasm Bank of Sardinia University of Cagliari, Sardinia Pina Muras Resident of Illorai, Sardinia Carlo Poddi Arborist, Sassari, Sardinia Readings "Su chercu pius bellu" (The Most Beautiful Oak) by Ignazio Camarda - read by Fulgenzio Piras "The Sa Melabrina Oak" by Graziano Nudda Quote by T.S. Eliot from "The Little Gidding" Voiceover Readers Manuela Buonanno (Pina Muras) Jeff Taliaferro (Graziano Nudda reading) Music Sa Melabrina Choir Conference hospitality provided by Proloco Oak Species of Sardinia - Quercus pubescens group Quercus dalechampii (Downy Oak) Quercus ichnusae Quercus congesta Quercus virgiliana Other Oak species in Sardinia Quercus ilex (Holm Oak) Quercus suber (Cork Oak) Quercus calliprinos Quercus morisi Theme Music "This Old Tree," Diccon Lee, www.deeleetree.com Artwork Dahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/home Website thisoldtree.show Transcripts available. Follow on Facebook or Instagram This Old Tree podcast is a sponsored project of the New England Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture. To support This Old Tree and New England ISA, click here. We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~4 or 5 minute  audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone’s voice memo app and email to: doug@thisoldtree.net This episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org

    Sa Melabrina and Sardinia's Monumental Trees

  5. 12/31/2025

    On Defense: Estonia's Stadium Oak

    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 by centuries of foreign invasion, and a profound connection to forests rooted in animism. Could a tree resist the Soviets? Learn about its inspiring legend that captured the attention of tree-lovers around the world. Guests Aliide Naylor Journalist and Author London, UK The Shadow in the East: Vladimir Putin and the New Baltic Front aliidenaylor.com Heiki Hanso Arborist Orissaare, Estonia Andla Rüütel Manager, Orissaare Sports Hall Orissaare, Estonia Voiceover Reading for Andla Rüütel Martha Douglas-Osmundson LinkedIn Profile Songs (in order) "Saaremaa valss," Georg Ots "Ma vaatan paadist kiikriga," Boris Lehtlaan "Metsavendade laul (sõnadega) - Forest Brothers' Song," Untsakad "Isegi unes," Stig Rästa (permission from FAAR Music) Other References "The Favours of the Sacred Tree," Estonian Folk Tales: the Heavenly Wedding, Piret Paar and Anne Turnpu, authors, 2005. Silence of the Gods: The Untold History of Europe's Last Pagan Peoples, Francis Young, 2025. European Tree of the Year, Environmental Partnership Association Theme Music "This Old Tree," Diccon Lee, www.deeleetree.com Artwork Dahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/home Website thisoldtree.show Transcripts available. Follow on Facebook or Instagram This Old Tree podcast is a sponsored project of the New England Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture. To support This Old Tree and New England ISA, click here. We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~4 or 5 minute  audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone’s voice memo app and email to: doug@thisoldtree.net This episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org

    On Defense: Estonia's Stadium Oak

  6. 11/27/2025

    Arborists Live: Our Tree Stories

    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, and what they love about their profession. Guests Heidi Shingleton Arborist Dirigo Tree Service Freeport, ME David Anderson Arborist Mayer Tree Service Essex, MA June Moulis Student, Urban Forestry and Arboriculture Concentration UMASS Amherst Tom Marino Certified Arborist SavATree Norwalk, CT Lindsay Watkins Strafford County Forester UNH Cooperative Extension Durham, NH Rich Cartier Northeast Territory Manager Rainbow Ecoscience Milford, MA Stories told on location at "The Canopy Connection: 2025 New England Chapter ISA Annual Conference and Trade Show," Southbridge, MA, October 7, 2025.  Music "Not Long Now," Falconer Theme Music "This Old Tree," Diccon Lee, www.deeleetree.com Artwork Dahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/home Website thisoldtree.show Transcripts available. Follow on Facebook or Instagram This Old Tree podcast is a sponsored project of the New England Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture. To support This Old Tree and New England ISA, click here. We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~4 or 5 minute  audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone’s voice memo app and email to: doug@thisoldtree.net This episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org

    Arborists Live: Our Tree Stories

  7. 10/27/2025

    The General Sherman Tree: First Encounters

    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 Muir, to a Black Army Captain who became the parks first true manager, discover how "first encounters" with giant sequoias become life altering events.  What evolutionary secrets allow sequoias to get so big? Why do frequent fires help them to survive? And what is "sequoia time?" The General Sherman tree and its mates have changed how we view the natural world and our place within it. Guest William C. Tweed Author and Retired Chief Naturalist Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, CA King Sequoia Challenge of the Big Trees: The History of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks (co-author with Lary M. Dilsaver) Readers Josh Abrams (Hale Tharp) Ewen Eadie (John Muir) Jeff Taliaferro (Capt. Charles Young) Music Justin Peters Tree Visitor Interview Tom Allen Emmy Riley Alex Allen Organizations That Support Giant Sequoias National Park Service, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Giant Sequoias Land Coalition Sequoia Parks Conservancy Save the Redwoods League Ancient Forest Society Tule River Tribe of California Theme Music "This Old Tree," Diccon Lee, www.deeleetree.com Artwork Dahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/home Website thisoldtree.show Transcripts available. Follow on Facebook or Instagram This Old Tree podcast is a sponsored project of the New England Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture. To support This Old Tree and New England ISA, click here. We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~4 or 5 minute  audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone’s voice memo app and email to: doug@thisoldtree.net This episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org

    The General Sherman Tree: First Encounters

  8. 08/24/2025

    S'Ozzastru and the Ancient Olive Trees of Sardinia

    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 travel to the heart of the Mediterranean in search of secrets to one of the world’s oldest living trees. 🌿 Guests Anna Maria Corda Tour Guide, Olivastri di Millenari di Luras Luras, Sardinia, Italy Marco Campus Agronomist, AGRIS Progetto Olivi Montiferru Oristano, Sardinia Fabio Piras Agronomist, AGRIS Progetto Olivi Montiferru Oristano, Sardinia Gianluigi Pili Agronomist, AGRIS Progetto Olivi Montiferru Oristano, Sardinia Emanuele Cauli Agronomist, AGRIS Progetto Olivi Montiferru Oristano, Sardinia Music Launeddas - Luigi Lai Cantu a tenore vocals - Su Dillu Songs from "S'arreppicu," Luigi Lai     Ripsosa pippiu     Fiorassiu in la (danza)     Goccius a Santu Idiu     S'arrepicu Reading Elias Portolu by Grazia Deledda Translated by Kevan Houser Guest Reader Manuela Buonanno Other References International Olive Council website "Why the Mediterranean is a Climate Change Hotspot," MIT News Special thanks to Ed Nardell Cristiana and Valerio, B&B Archè Theme Music "This Old Tree," Diccon Lee, www.deeleetree.com Artwork Dahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/home Website thisoldtree.show Transcripts available. Follow on Facebook or Instagram This Old Tree podcast is a sponsored project of the New England Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture. To support This Old Tree and New England ISA, click here. We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~4 or 5 minute  audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone’s voice memo app and email to: doug@thisoldtree.net This episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org

    S'Ozzastru and the Ancient Olive Trees of Sardinia
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About

Old trees are awe inspiring links to the past that fire our imagination. What are their stories? Seasoned arborist and amateur historian Doug Still interviews local experts, historians, and community people to celebrate the myths and uncover the real tales. If you're a tree lover, join in to look "beyond the plaque" at heritage trees and the human stories behind them. 

Information

  • Creator
    Doug Still
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    39
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 This Old Tree
  • Show Website
    This Old Tree

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