Landscape Architecture Resource

I am happy to announce that I am now an ISA Certified Arborist. Thanks to my "roots" in plant science and landscape architecture, it was a fairly painless procedure. Then again, it's easy to study for something if you love the subject matter.

As much as I already knew about trees, my perspective has been enhanced. For one, I had always underestimated how critical soil is. Not just the contents, but the structure of it. I also am thinking now in terms of the urban forest, not just each tree in isolation.

I'd like to share some tree-related goodness with you. I'm sure you'll find it useful.

• a quick pamphlet on tree roots and their interactions with pavement, sidewalks and pipes. It'll give you a new perspective on roots.

• an article published in Landscapes/Paysages a few months ago on soils and why they are so important (pdf). Landscapes/Paysages is the trade publication of the CSLA. The article is written in English on one side of the page and en Francais on the other side.

• I may have shared this before, but if you're a real tree geek, here's a simple animation showing how trees grow.

• you've got to love this video. At one point you'll see police walking buy and you'll think, "man, it's a good thing the cops are securing the area. That tree must weigh a ton!"