Blog

Ecology, Uncategorized

Native Plant Sale

The Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District is holding their annual plant sale. I’ve planted over 100 trees from this source over the years and nearly all of them have thrived. Most of the trees are sold as bare-root saplings, which consist essentially of twigs with roots, packaged in bundles […]

Ecology, Sustainable Living

Favorite Tree Websites

by Martin (Mort) Schmidt for Simply Living Photo by Mort Schmidt I’m often asked about my favorite tree books and websites. I have a good many favorites, so this month I’ll discuss my favorite tree websites and some later month I’ll discuss my favorite tree books. I’m old school – when […]

Living Simply, Uncategorized

Simply Living Talks to ChatGPT

In case you haven’t heard, CHATGPT is a new AI (Artificial Intelligence) program. You can ask questions and get answers on almost any topic It is also interactive and allows for dialogue to pusue topics in depth. For example, I asked ChatGPT what it is and received this answer. What […]

Ecology, Uncategorized

Winter Tree ID

Mort Schmidt, author of the Tree of the Month articles, will co-lead a winter tree ID walk with park ranger Scott Felker at Three Creeks Metro Park on Sunday, January 22nd at 2 PM. We’ll meet at the Confluence Area as shown in the attached map. I’d love to see […]

Ecology, Uncategorized

Tree of the Month, January 2023

Baldcypress, Swamp Cypress (Taxodium distichum) by Martin (Mort) Schmidt for Simply Living Not all conifers are evergreens. We often use the terms interchangeably, but in fact some conifers lose their needles in winter, while some broadleaf trees, such as American Holly (Ilex opaca), keep their leaves in winter. As discussed […]

Ecology, Sustainable Living

Stratford Ecological Center: Interview with April Hoy by Simply Living Interns Abby Esch and Kenedy Witherow

Last week, with my fellow intern, Kenedy, I got to sit down (virtually) and talk with April Hoy, about Stratford Ecological Center. April is the Education Director at Stratford, a working organic farm, state nature preserve, and non-profit organization that was started back in the early 1990s as a family-run […]

Ecology, Uncategorized

Tree of the Month, November 2022

White Ash, American Ash Fraxinus americana  by Martin (Mort) Schmidt for Simply Living White Ash is the stuff of baseball bats, and would be a good candidate for the ideal tree, especially when considering its wood. Harder than pine, softer than oak, ash is hard enough to wear well, but […]

Ecology, Uncategorized

Tree of the Month, October 2022

Eastern Hop Hornbeam, aka Hop Hornbeam, Ironwood Ostrya virginiana by Martin (Mort) Schmidt for Simply Living Eastern Hop Hornbeam is often overlooked today, but it was once an essential wood due to its considerable hardness. It’s often confused with two other understory trees, American Hornbeam – Ohio’s other “Ironwood”, and […]

Events

Sustainable September – Green: Bexley

Simply Living is a Co-Sponsor! Join us in Bexley! This September, we’re exploring the most impactful actions we can take to be more sustainable. Inspired by Project Drawdown and sponsored by the Bexley Community Foundation, Capital University, and Simply Living, we’re excited to learn alongside you and take action towards […]

Ecology

August 2022 Tree of the Month – Common Hopwood, Wafer Ash Ptelea Trifoliata By Martin (Mort) Schmidt for Simply Living

This small tree is the New World’s northernmost member of the Rue (citrus) family. Once widely used for medicine, it’s too small for lumber and is useful only to wildlife and landscapers. But it’s very distinctive and interesting. The Common Hoptree’s compound leaves have alternately-arranged leaves with three leaflets, hence […]

Ecology, Uncategorized

Tree of the Month, July 2022

“Mimosa”, Persian Silk TreeAlbizia julibrissinby Martin (Mort) Schmidtfor Simply Living If you’re driving along a city street in July and notice a small tree with pink flowers, take a closer look — it might be a Persian Silk Tree, commonly known as “Mimosa”. As the name suggests, it is native to […]