We know trees pop up in unexpected places, but one of the most unexpected is hanging from a car rearview mirror. The story behind those little tree fresheners is a tale of spilt milk.

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9/24/2026

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Trees and Bears

TreeNote

The relationship between bears and trees is deeper than you may think.

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9/17/2026

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The stalwart mountain mahogany

TreeNote

The mountain mahogany proves that being “in the middle” does not mean being ordinary.

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9/10/2026

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Why trees in a city matter

TreeNote

Salt Lake City's west side has about half the amount of trees as the east side — areas that urban foresters "tree canopy deserts."

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9/3/2026

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Trees and Shade

TreeNote

On a hot summer day, tree shade can feel like a lifesaver. That's because trees do more than block the sun.

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8/27/2026

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A wooden pencil seems pretty simple — a cylinder of wood, a tube of graphite and an eraser. But pencils and trees have a history that’s been shaped by the economics and ecology of different tree species.

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8/20/2026

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Termites and trees

TreeNote

We know that termites eat wood, but how do they actually digest it? And, what role do these tiny insects play in forest ecosystems?

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8/13/2026

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The cecropia tree and its tiny defenders

TreeNote

In the diverse tropical forests of Central and South America, one tree is easy to recognize — the Cecropia tree. But its who lives inside of it that makes it especially interesting.

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8/6/2026

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Trees and Classical Music

TreeNote

Trees have been inspiring artists for centuries — including musicians. Host Nalini Nadkarni looks at a piece of classical music that tells the story of the generations who passed beneath a grove of Roman pine trees.

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7/30/2026

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Skateboards and trees

TreeNote

Skateboards and trees may not have an obvious connection, but many skateboard decks are made from layers of wood. So the next time you see a skater carving through a turn, keep in mind that it all starts in the forest.

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7/23/2026

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How to give dead trees new life

TreeNote

The black walnut pulpit at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City has a personal history with the man who conceived of the building.

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7/16/2026

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Nature's backup plan

TreeNote

If you walk through a recently-logged forest, you might see fresh green shoots growing out from a tree’s trunk. These epicormic shoots come from dormant buds hidden beneath the bark, ready to spring to life after disturbance.

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7/9/2026

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How trees get their names

TreeNote

Some of our favorite trees have strange and often fascinating stories behind their names.

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7/2/2026

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The strength of redwood communities

TreeNote

Redwood forests have been named one of the Seven Natural Wonders of America. Once you learn a little about them, its easy to see why.

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6/25/2026

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Is bamboo a tree?

TreeNote

If you've ever experienced a bamboo forest, then you know that it is serene and elegant. But what it isn't is a group of trees.

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6/18/2026

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How beavers help prevent wildfires

TreeNote

Smoky the Bear is probably the best-known animal firefighter, but the North American beaver is the one doing the heavy lifting.

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6/11/2026

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What tree stumps can teach us

TreeNote

A tree stump might look like the sad ending of a tree’s story. But to a sharp-eyed observer, that remnant can be the beginning of one.

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6/4/2026

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Trees with a twist

TreeNote

When I walk through an evergreen forest, I like to keep track of which way the trees twist. Many conifers have a spiral grain in their wood, meaning the fibers run in a gentle helix around the trunk rather than straight up and down.

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