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Sunday, June 19, 2011

Botanical Legacy

My dad is a tree guy. He studied forestry at University of California at Berkeley in the 1950s, and worked for the US Forest Service as a forestry researcher in Southeast Alaska for thirty years. One of his specialties was the Sitka spruce tree. He conducted surveys, wrote articles, and contributed to the body of knowledge.
Our family hiked a lot while we were growing up. We hiked in the snow and rain, and in beautiful weather. We hiked up mountains and along beaches and rivers. We loved to take boat rides in our cabin cruiser, and find a beach for a picnic. We camped all over Alaska, Canada, and the United States. Dad always had something to teach us about plants, geology, climate, weather, natural history, and exploration and development of the West.

World's biggest spruce
tree, in Washington state

Facts about the Sitka spruce

Dad retired in the 1980s, but he is still interested in trees and plants. Dad is a source of inspiration as a life-long learner, and a fellow plant enthusiast. One of the highlights of the year is hiking in the desert with my folks in pursuit of wild flowers. My dad has imparted a botanical legacy, which continues to enrich my life.

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