BROADLEAF NEIGHBORS
Issue 8, Summer 2020Photo by John F. Williams
BROADLEAF NEIGHBORS
Issue 8, Summer 2020
Though the Pacific Northwest is know for its evergreens, there are some broadleaf trees here that are both important and impressive. In this issue we’ll look at three of the most common trees: Red Alders, Pacific Madrone, and Bigleaf Maples.
In keeping with Salish Magazine’s tradition, these articles address some of the ways that these trees relate to the larger ecosystem: what they prefer, what they contribute, and what relationships they have.
There are also relationships between the articles. For example, the two articles about red alders both touch on the role alders play in nitrogen fixing. Those two articles each link to a third article which talks about what nitrogen fixing is all about.
There are also two articles that take different looks at the Pacific Madrone, one of our more unusual looking trees that keeps its leaves during the winter.
In keeping with our new practice of releasing content between quarterly issues, in the coming weeks there will also be a photo essay about our Bigleaf Maple and some poetry.
publisher’s note
We hope you’ve been enjoying the Virtual Explorations that we’ve been publishing weekly — bringing our local outdoors to you while this pandemic has been keeping people close to home. As of 9 June we have 20 of them online, with more to come.
We are also beginning to up our game in terms of making Salish Magazine more interactive — to take advantage of some of the handy features that really distinguish online publications from printed ones.
For example, we have already been using hyperlinks to allow some things on the page to link to other pages. Text that is a hyperlink is blue, for example: this links to our homepage.
Check out our new feature!
Beginning with this issue’s article In the Company of Alders, we’re introducing occasional “tooltips” into the text. When you hover over text that is colored dark orange, a small box will pop up with some additional information. If you’re using a touch-screen, then touch the orange text. ,
Contact us via the CONNECT menu above and let us know what you think.
Table of Contents
Bigleaf Maple
by John F. Williams
Spring 2020
Next time you come across a Bigleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum), or two or ten, slow down and look for some of the fun things you’ve seen here.
Poetry-8
by Nancy Taylor
Summer 2020
The theme for this issue is Broadleaf Trees, and for that we have a poem, “Ode to Madrona: Fort Worden State Park, Port Townsend, WA 2019“
Hardwood & Winter Leaves
by Kristopher Clark
Summer 2020
The madrona tree stands out from other trees as is Washington State’s only broad-leaved evergreen tree with vibrant orange-red outer layers of bark.
Red Alder
by Thomas & Sara Noland
Summer 2020
Call it a weed tree if you want, but red alder roots build nutrients in the soil, its bark and twigs provide food for wildlife, its fallen leaves and branches create a blanket of rich mulch on the forest floor.
Factories Underfoot
by Adelia Ritchie
Summer 2020
What do we mean when we say that some plants are “nitrogen fixers”? No, it doesn’t mean that they are repairing nitrogen! Let’s take a look at this hugely important subject.
In the Company of Alders
by Phoebe Goit
Summer 2020
Lacking the magnificence of the cedar or the great presence of a Douglas fir or grand fir, the easily recognized alder tree is not considered very impressive by most locals. It’s just an alder.
The Pacific Madrone
by Gerald Young
Summer 2020
Long known, admired, and utilized by indigenous people, the madrona must deal with a rapidly changing climate and changes caused by human activities.
Salish Magazine
Publisher: John F. Williams
Assistant Editor: Adelia Ritchie
This magazine is a nonprofit project of:
SEA-Media
P.O. Box 1407 Suquamish WA 98392
info@sea-media.org www.salishmagazine.org
Copyright SEA-Media, 2020
All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without consent of copyright owner is strictly prohibited.
SEA-Media is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation
Extra special thanks to: Susan W. Merrill, Sheila Kelley, Kathleen Thorne, Phillip Rosaaen, and all of the credited authors and image contributors.
Sincere thanks also to our Patreon patrons: Craig Jacobrown, Sara Wade, Beverly Parsons, Phillis Carey, Tena and Earl Doan, John Willett, and Kay Oh
PLEASE HELP SUPPORT
SALISH MAGAZINE
DONATE
Salish Magazine contains no advertising and is free. Your donation is one big way you can help us inspire people with stories about things that they can see outdoors in our Salish Sea region.
We also don't advertise Salish Magazine, so please spread the word of this online resource to your friends and colleagues.
Thanks so much for your interest and your support.
We also don't advertise Salish Magazine, so please spread the word of this online resource to your friends and colleagues.
Thanks so much for your interest and your support.