Neil Pederson
@yellowbuckeye.bsky.social
I study old-growth forests and climate change from trees to regions and seasons to centuries. A colleague termed it RetroEcology - https://broadleafpapers.wordpress.com/
Love music in 3/4, 6/8, 5/4, 11, & other offbeat signatures (no real pun intended)
Love music in 3/4, 6/8, 5/4, 11, & other offbeat signatures (no real pun intended)
Because I enjoy SciComm, I offer public talks and tree-ring workshops. The two-day tree-ring workshops include opportunities to interpret and then synthesize information gleaned from each tree as a class.
If either of these activities fit your institution or communities, please reach out.
If either of these activities fit your institution or communities, please reach out.
October 31, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Because I enjoy SciComm, I offer public talks and tree-ring workshops. The two-day tree-ring workshops include opportunities to interpret and then synthesize information gleaned from each tree as a class.
If either of these activities fit your institution or communities, please reach out.
If either of these activities fit your institution or communities, please reach out.
Professional Update:
Starting January 2026 I will begin my two-year Highstead Research Affiliate position at Highstead: highstead.net.
Among other activities, I will begin a new project identifying and mapping old-growth forests in Connecticut, the Catskills, and Adirondacks.
Starting January 2026 I will begin my two-year Highstead Research Affiliate position at Highstead: highstead.net.
Among other activities, I will begin a new project identifying and mapping old-growth forests in Connecticut, the Catskills, and Adirondacks.
October 31, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Professional Update:
Starting January 2026 I will begin my two-year Highstead Research Affiliate position at Highstead: highstead.net.
Among other activities, I will begin a new project identifying and mapping old-growth forests in Connecticut, the Catskills, and Adirondacks.
Starting January 2026 I will begin my two-year Highstead Research Affiliate position at Highstead: highstead.net.
Among other activities, I will begin a new project identifying and mapping old-growth forests in Connecticut, the Catskills, and Adirondacks.
Umbrella Magnolia leaves hitting a sublime autumnal color
October 19, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Umbrella Magnolia leaves hitting a sublime autumnal color
In a town with plenty of artists, creative songs, costumes, and songs
October 18, 2025 at 8:08 PM
In a town with plenty of artists, creative songs, costumes, and songs
In a town with plenty of artists, creative songs, costumes, and songs
October 18, 2025 at 8:08 PM
In a town with plenty of artists, creative songs, costumes, and songs
More than 500 at the No Kings protest in little ‘ol Maynard, MA, pop 12k
October 18, 2025 at 8:06 PM
More than 500 at the No Kings protest in little ‘ol Maynard, MA, pop 12k
On the 26th we will learn about past environments and the amazing lives of trees from their rings (and maybe we will learn a bit about ourselves). On the 2nd we will learn what old trees tend to look like and how to read the forested landscape. I aim to make this course eye-opening and fun.
October 16, 2025 at 6:10 PM
On the 26th we will learn about past environments and the amazing lives of trees from their rings (and maybe we will learn a bit about ourselves). On the 2nd we will learn what old trees tend to look like and how to read the forested landscape. I aim to make this course eye-opening and fun.
Gentle Reminder:
There are a few days remaining for you or a friend, colleague, or family member to take my course on ancient trees and tree rings at the NY Botanical Garden on Sunday, October 26th and Sunday, November 2nd.
Sign up at this link: www.enrole.com/nybg/jsp/ses...
There are a few days remaining for you or a friend, colleague, or family member to take my course on ancient trees and tree rings at the NY Botanical Garden on Sunday, October 26th and Sunday, November 2nd.
Sign up at this link: www.enrole.com/nybg/jsp/ses...
October 16, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Gentle Reminder:
There are a few days remaining for you or a friend, colleague, or family member to take my course on ancient trees and tree rings at the NY Botanical Garden on Sunday, October 26th and Sunday, November 2nd.
Sign up at this link: www.enrole.com/nybg/jsp/ses...
There are a few days remaining for you or a friend, colleague, or family member to take my course on ancient trees and tree rings at the NY Botanical Garden on Sunday, October 26th and Sunday, November 2nd.
Sign up at this link: www.enrole.com/nybg/jsp/ses...
I am teaching a course on ancient trees and tree rings at the NY Botanical Garden on Sunday, October 26th and Sunday, November 2nd.
We will learn about past environments, the amazing lives of trees, and what old trees tend to look like.
Sign up at this link: www.enrole.com/nybg/jsp/ses...
We will learn about past environments, the amazing lives of trees, and what old trees tend to look like.
Sign up at this link: www.enrole.com/nybg/jsp/ses...
October 7, 2025 at 10:19 AM
I am teaching a course on ancient trees and tree rings at the NY Botanical Garden on Sunday, October 26th and Sunday, November 2nd.
We will learn about past environments, the amazing lives of trees, and what old trees tend to look like.
Sign up at this link: www.enrole.com/nybg/jsp/ses...
We will learn about past environments, the amazing lives of trees, and what old trees tend to look like.
Sign up at this link: www.enrole.com/nybg/jsp/ses...
And, now the finale of the Unbrella Magnolia seed pod season
October 1, 2025 at 3:41 PM
And, now the finale of the Unbrella Magnolia seed pod season
Lead authors and visionary of these drought atlases, Dr. Edward ‘Dr.Dendro’ Cook getting some of his due.
Really incredible work that will be valuable for years and decades
Really incredible work that will be valuable for years and decades
September 25, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Lead authors and visionary of these drought atlases, Dr. Edward ‘Dr.Dendro’ Cook getting some of his due.
Really incredible work that will be valuable for years and decades
Really incredible work that will be valuable for years and decades
Was just sent this photo: the oldest-documented Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda) is still kicking.
First scientifically aged in 1992, this lovely is now rapping up its 260 year (260 years at being 1/2 m or so tall; phot by J. Scheff)
First scientifically aged in 1992, this lovely is now rapping up its 260 year (260 years at being 1/2 m or so tall; phot by J. Scheff)
September 21, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Was just sent this photo: the oldest-documented Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda) is still kicking.
First scientifically aged in 1992, this lovely is now rapping up its 260 year (260 years at being 1/2 m or so tall; phot by J. Scheff)
First scientifically aged in 1992, this lovely is now rapping up its 260 year (260 years at being 1/2 m or so tall; phot by J. Scheff)
Now peak Umbrella Magnolia seed pod color
September 17, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Now peak Umbrella Magnolia seed pod color
Becoming my favorite microseason: the ripening of Umbrella Magnolia seed pods
September 14, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Becoming my favorite microseason: the ripening of Umbrella Magnolia seed pods
The ruckus with the Coyotes woke my mind.
With that, the morning had turned into thinking about the occasional rhyming, not repeating, of forests across Time and Space
With that, the morning had turned into thinking about the occasional rhyming, not repeating, of forests across Time and Space
September 4, 2025 at 12:08 PM
The ruckus with the Coyotes woke my mind.
With that, the morning had turned into thinking about the occasional rhyming, not repeating, of forests across Time and Space
With that, the morning had turned into thinking about the occasional rhyming, not repeating, of forests across Time and Space
Hi - I’m Neil. I study the ecology and natural history of old trees and old growth forests & climate impacts on said trees and forests.
I just visited an old-growth forest where a 400+ yr old Yellow Birch lives (hollow, so exact age is unknown).
I visit OG forests when on vacation, too (last pic)
I just visited an old-growth forest where a 400+ yr old Yellow Birch lives (hollow, so exact age is unknown).
I visit OG forests when on vacation, too (last pic)
August 20, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Hi - I’m Neil. I study the ecology and natural history of old trees and old growth forests & climate impacts on said trees and forests.
I just visited an old-growth forest where a 400+ yr old Yellow Birch lives (hollow, so exact age is unknown).
I visit OG forests when on vacation, too (last pic)
I just visited an old-growth forest where a 400+ yr old Yellow Birch lives (hollow, so exact age is unknown).
I visit OG forests when on vacation, too (last pic)
Come for the bazillion Bees on the Wild Senna. Stay for the curious Hummingbird
August 14, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Come for the bazillion Bees on the Wild Senna. Stay for the curious Hummingbird
A friend just shared pix from one of my favorite and easily accessible pockets of large, and likely old, Yellow Buckeye trees in the Smokies. Also known as Aesculus flava, not only do they have some of the most wonderfully textured bark in the eastern US, we found 400+ yrs is not out of the question
July 25, 2025 at 11:48 AM
A friend just shared pix from one of my favorite and easily accessible pockets of large, and likely old, Yellow Buckeye trees in the Smokies. Also known as Aesculus flava, not only do they have some of the most wonderfully textured bark in the eastern US, we found 400+ yrs is not out of the question
I didn’t anticipate this:
Two mornings in a row we have watched* a sweet little Ruby-throat Hummingbird glean and sip from the Coastal Sweet Pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia). Easy to grow, this late-summer flowering native shrub adds so much to the landscape.
* from the comfort of our bed
Two mornings in a row we have watched* a sweet little Ruby-throat Hummingbird glean and sip from the Coastal Sweet Pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia). Easy to grow, this late-summer flowering native shrub adds so much to the landscape.
* from the comfort of our bed
July 18, 2025 at 11:44 AM
I didn’t anticipate this:
Two mornings in a row we have watched* a sweet little Ruby-throat Hummingbird glean and sip from the Coastal Sweet Pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia). Easy to grow, this late-summer flowering native shrub adds so much to the landscape.
* from the comfort of our bed
Two mornings in a row we have watched* a sweet little Ruby-throat Hummingbird glean and sip from the Coastal Sweet Pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia). Easy to grow, this late-summer flowering native shrub adds so much to the landscape.
* from the comfort of our bed
Any folks out there who know the stats or have good arguments about trees falling on houses? So many people really seem to fear it.
Anyone know persuasive arguments on retaining somewhat large trees around houses?
If trees fell at the rates people fear, there would hardly be any trees in cities
Anyone know persuasive arguments on retaining somewhat large trees around houses?
If trees fell at the rates people fear, there would hardly be any trees in cities
June 28, 2025 at 10:22 AM
Any folks out there who know the stats or have good arguments about trees falling on houses? So many people really seem to fear it.
Anyone know persuasive arguments on retaining somewhat large trees around houses?
If trees fell at the rates people fear, there would hardly be any trees in cities
Anyone know persuasive arguments on retaining somewhat large trees around houses?
If trees fell at the rates people fear, there would hardly be any trees in cities
Happy Solstice All! Enjoy the late, long, and enduring light of the mid-yesr Sun
Trivia - the period around the Northern Hemisphere Summer Solstice seems to be the period of peak growth in the stem of many trees (and much research is still needed on this subject)
Trivia - the period around the Northern Hemisphere Summer Solstice seems to be the period of peak growth in the stem of many trees (and much research is still needed on this subject)
June 20, 2025 at 11:39 PM
Happy Solstice All! Enjoy the late, long, and enduring light of the mid-yesr Sun
Trivia - the period around the Northern Hemisphere Summer Solstice seems to be the period of peak growth in the stem of many trees (and much research is still needed on this subject)
Trivia - the period around the Northern Hemisphere Summer Solstice seems to be the period of peak growth in the stem of many trees (and much research is still needed on this subject)
Does climate play a role in tree longevity?
A paleo study in Georgia suggests that might be a possibility: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
A paleo study in Georgia suggests that might be a possibility: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
June 10, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Does climate play a role in tree longevity?
A paleo study in Georgia suggests that might be a possibility: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
A paleo study in Georgia suggests that might be a possibility: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
If you see this post, post a flower 🌺
Having a bountiful spring of Umbrella Magnolia and Pink Ladyslipper blossoms here in MetroWest Boston
Having a bountiful spring of Umbrella Magnolia and Pink Ladyslipper blossoms here in MetroWest Boston
June 1, 2025 at 11:45 AM
If you see this post, post a flower 🌺
Having a bountiful spring of Umbrella Magnolia and Pink Ladyslipper blossoms here in MetroWest Boston
Having a bountiful spring of Umbrella Magnolia and Pink Ladyslipper blossoms here in MetroWest Boston
I started placing chunks of stems that I could not split by hand around our yard for reasons I’m still not sure.
I didn’t expect them to be calling cards for Woodpeckers, even the Pileated
I didn’t expect them to be calling cards for Woodpeckers, even the Pileated
May 30, 2025 at 12:31 PM
I started placing chunks of stems that I could not split by hand around our yard for reasons I’m still not sure.
I didn’t expect them to be calling cards for Woodpeckers, even the Pileated
I didn’t expect them to be calling cards for Woodpeckers, even the Pileated