UNTER DEN LINDEN

YOUNG LINDEN TREE...

AMERICAN LINDEN (BASSWOOD) IN FLOWER...

...HEART SHAPED LEAVES

Saturday, 8:30 AM.  66 degrees F at the ferry dock, 61 on the back porch.  Wind variable, calm with light gusts.  The humidity is 85%, the barometer more or less steady for now.  There is a chance of a thunderstorm on Sunday, and an unsettled and much warmer week ahead.  This morning, however, is gorgeous.
   The American linden, AKA basswood, Tilia americana, in the Basswood Family,  is a large climax forest tree that grows in association with sugar maples in the eastern half of the North American continent.  There are several additional native North American lindens, which are closely related to it and which are considered varieties by some and separate species by others; for our purposes we will consider them all the same species.  There are other non-native Tilia species that are used at times in urban forestry, but most, except for T. cordata, the European linden,  are not hardy north and would not be of much importance to this discussion. The German word for linden is the same as the American name, and in Britain the linden is called the "lime."
   Being a climax forest tree,  T. americana is shade tolerant and prefers a rich soil with moderate moisture requirements, but will grow in full sun and is tolerant of other soil conditions.  It makes a good street tree except for the hard pea-sized winged fruits that follow the fragrant yellow flowers.  Bees love the flowers and basswood honey is excellent.  In dense shade the heart-shaped, toothed leaves can grow very large.
  The European linden, T. cordata, is quite similar but smaller in stature and with smaller leaves.  It is also a good street tree and much used as such.  It is the famous  street tree of Berlin, and the tree of the medieval German love song/poem, Unter den Linden.

OFF THE CUFF

   The current crisis in American race relations, and in particular the animosity between the black community and the police, is so much of a throwback to the '60's and 70's that one might think time had actually been turned back.  At this junture American cities aren't on fire with any regularity, but who knows what evil the summer may bring.

   There has been a lot of painfully obvious race baiting and playing of  the race card in the last few years by selfishly opportunistic leaders who should have known better, and all who have done either are guilty of creating the current anarchy, much of it intentional.  

   It is way past time for  national leadership from the the black and white and other communities and from the police to move everyone away from the present dangerous situation, while upholding law enforcement as the only element that stands in the way of complete chaos. In the meantime:

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