Arnold Arboretum

What did you, what were you taking pictures of?

You know, when I lived in Boston and went to Mass Art, I was taking pictures of everything 'cause, you know, I'd just walk around the neighborhood, and, and I went-- I spent a lot of time at the, um, at the Arnold Arboretum because I, I lived like a 10-minute walk from there and all the time I lived in Boston and when I went to school.

So I have, uh, yeah, I have some pieces in, in the show from that time, and, uh, yeah, just sort of-- Well, I had a dream that I should study photography, and at that, at that point, I didn't even own a camera.

I'd never taken a picture in my life.

And that thing, after just kind of fading into the background all season, it just sings in the landscape come fall.

I was at the Arnold Arboretum in October and...

The berries, oh, I mean, it was just stunning.

Sun comes out, just gorgeous.

Our goal is to make your personal landscape healthier, more beautiful, more sustainable, and more fun.

This is your host, Tom Christopher, and today I will be talking to Ned Friedman, professor of organismic and evolutionary biology at Harvard University and the director of the university's famed Arnold Arboretum.

Ned, as anyone who talks to him soon learns, is passionate about trees and not just in a scientific sense.

He is fascinated by every aspect of them, from their beauty to their ecological function and their sheer diversity.

This fascination is something he loves to share, as you will learn from the inspirational conversation that follows.

Ned is also deeply concerned about the future of trees in this era of environmental challenges.

And under his leadership, the Arnold Arboretum has become a center for innovative programs to identify tree species and populations that are at risk.

and take measures to try and ensure their survival.