The Wisdom Tree
This is Nature for everyone – without any physical effort. Come sit, eat lunch, enjoy the afternoon breeze, and learn about what surrounds us. You’ll hear about what goes on in the caves underneath us and the heritage of the Southwest Virginia people. Learn about critters in the local rivers and the birds and butterflies in a way you’ve never heard before!
Charlie Grymes
Charlie served 30+ years with the US Department of the Interior and is now a recovering Federal bureaucrat. He taught "Geography of Virginia" as an adjunct at George Mason University, and currently volunteers with local organizations pestering elected officials.
- 501: Under the Wisdom Tree — The Blue Ridge: Punctuated Evolution of a Mountain RangeLimit 99
Those rocks in the Blue Ridge are old, really old. Surprisingly, the mountain that we see may not be so ancient. The Blue Ridge that we see today east of Radford has been squished, baked, buried, exhumed, uplifted, and eroded. You can see the evidence in the topographic wrinkles, reflecting the punctuated evolution of the Blue Ridge.
- 502: Under the Wisdom Tree — Is it Soil or Dirt?Limit 99
Anyone trying to be successful needs to be “well grounded” – but what’s in the actual ground? When we walk on the grass or a trail at SUUSI, what are we trampling with our feet? There’s an extraordinary amount of science – and a lot of lore – that explains what stuff to grow, how to grow the right stuff, and how to grow that stuff right.
- 503: Under the Wisdom Tree — Things That Slither and CrawlLimit 99
Snakes are fascinating. Turtles are fun. Earthworms – well, everyone should dig ‘em. Come discover what’s moving around us, with and without legs. They see the world from a different angle, so if we “walk a mile in their moccasins” we can broaden our perspective as well.
- 504: Under the Wisdom Tree — Spiders, 'Skeeters, and StingersLimit 99
There’s a place in the choir for all of god’s creatures. When we get into their space, sometimes they defend themselves. At other times – hey, they gotta eat too. Sometimes, even us. Learn about the critters that we love to hate before you swat ‘em again.