Funga's Favorite Trees

As you can imagine, the folks who work at Funga are Tree People. When you walk into our offices, the first thing you will see is a copy of “The Lorax” on the coffee table. There are multiple forestry-related award winners among us, for everything from bark identification to lumberjack sports. The Funga headquarters is slowly accumulating stray pine seedlings the way some households adopt stray cats. So in honor of Arbor Day, we are reflecting on the trees that hold an extra special place in our hearts.

Arizona Sycamores

Dawson Fairbanks’s Favorite Tree

“I love Arizona Sycamores. I studied riparian ecosystems as an undergrad and I lived in the Aravaipa Canyon Preserve for a few years. This particular sycamore was massive and I spent a lot of time reading and watching wildlife here (coatis, turkeys, bighorn sheep, grey hawks, even signs of mountain lions). Someone had built a treehouse in it years ago, and it always felt like stepping back in time. The canyon is one of the only continuous water sources for miles and is a biodiversity hot spot. I worked on conservation projects with TNC here assisting with soil carbon projects, species surveys, and invasive species management. I also supported efforts to build stronger connections between TNC and the Apache tribe, since this was an area of deep cultural and historical trauma. This was a really meaningful place for me to learn about connecting with land and history and approaching conservation work with sensitivity and nuance.”

Eastern Hemlock

Colin Averill’s Favorite Tree

“My favorite is Eastern Hemlock, Tsuga canadensis. I did a lot of my PhD research in Eastern Hemlock stands in Harvard Forest. I dug a lot of holes to experimentally test how mycorrhizal fungi affect soil carbon cycling and storage across a "chronosequence" of very young hemlock stands, 100 year stands, and 200+ year old stands. In that process you see how much the trees and fungi change soil over long periods of time—a huge layer of organic matter builds up that can be over a foot thick. You also learn wild populations of neon-fluorescent yellow mycorrhizal fungi are growing in the soil in certain locations.”

Ginkos

Ann Marie Diener’s Favorite Tree

"My Dad likes to identify trees when we're on walks together; Ginkgos have long been one of our favorites to spot."

Japanese Maples

Lily Gannon’s Favorite Tree

“My mother has always loved Japanese Maples, and inspired a passion for them in me as well. I feel like they have magical properties, and that some day I might see a fairy in one. At the end of the day, they utterly enchant me—from the colors of the leaves, to the shapes of the branches, I love the way they sit in the ground and go about existence.”

Longleaf Pine

Andrew Stewart’s Favorite Tree

“Longleaf Pine is a keystone species that has been depicted, noted and written about since before the early explorers and settlers arrived in America. It’s iconic and plays a vital role in its ecosystem and the forest industry throughout the southeastern U.S. This current National Champion located in Hitchcock Woods stands at 105 ft tall and has a trunk circumference of 140 in…that’s more than 11 feet and is estimated to be over 300 years old!”

Mimosa Trees

Jenna Luecke’s Favorite Tree

“Mimosa trees, also known as Silk trees or Persian silk trees, have these unusual pink flowers that are like delicate pom-poms. I love any plant that looks as though it could have been dreamt up by Dr. Seuss, and Mimosa trees are a perfect example. I remember there being quite a few in our neighborhood when I was growing up, and to this day it cheers me up when I pass by one on a walk.”

Moreton Bay Fig

Erika Randolph’s Favorite Tree

“They’re huge. They grow up to 200 years old and reach up to 200 feet tall and 150 feet wide at the crown. Their fruit feeds various animals, especially where they commonly grow in subtropical rainforests. And their most striking feature beyond size is their buttress roots. Not true tree roots, but rather part of the trunk that extends to create a tentacle-like nest around the tree for humans and creatures alike to burrow and rest in.

We had a Moreton Bay Fig in the courtyard of my high school that is now estimated to be 150 years old. I love to imagine the generations of kids that have set their imaginations free among the roots, and what the tree has heard about math problems, love lives, and the existential crises of the era. If only we could absorb the quiet wisdom of these old and majestic beings!”

Ōhiʻa Lehua

Kimiko LaHaela’s Favorite Tree

“Ōhiʻa Lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha) is my absolute favorite tree because of its ecological and cultural significance to the Islands of Hawaiʻi. Not only is it endemic to Hawaiʻi and the first tree species to grow out of a fresh lava flow, but is also closely associated with the Hawaiian volcano goddess Pele and an important Hawaiian moʻolelo (story) that tells of its creation. The blossoms (lehua) are beautiful and the rare salmon colored ones are my favorite!"

Redwoods

Anthony Seliskar’s Favorite Tree

“I got to camp and ride motorcycles through the Redwoods and it was an amazing experience. They just make you feel like a tiny bug when you are next to them!! 10/10.”

Southern Live Oak

Alison Ketz’s Favorite Tree

“They never lose their leaves, we have a beautiful one in the front of our house that makes me feel like spring all year.” [Note: the Southern Live Oak in this photo, located in New Orleans, is estimated to be 800 years old!]

Western Bristlecone Pine

Joey Webber’s Favorite Tree

“My favorite tree right now is a Western Bristlecone Pine sitting in the snow. They are high altitude champions and they are really old. Which is cool to ponder. They also swirl, like a candy cane. And that’s neat too!”