Justin Maxwell
@l-tulipifera.bsky.social
Professor at Indiana University. Climate and forest ecology. Post about trees, forests, drought, and tropical cyclones.
Today’s local fieldwork was colder but older! I think we may have found some 300 yr old beech and sweet gum! Will be going back to this site in the future, some nice oak and Nyssa as well.
November 9, 2025 at 11:20 PM
Today’s local fieldwork was colder but older! I think we may have found some 300 yr old beech and sweet gum! Will be going back to this site in the future, some nice oak and Nyssa as well.
Some local fall fieldwork in southeast Indiana. Sample some 200-250yr old black gum, sweet gum, American beech, and white oak! Great weather but will be colder tomorrow.
November 9, 2025 at 2:10 AM
Some local fall fieldwork in southeast Indiana. Sample some 200-250yr old black gum, sweet gum, American beech, and white oak! Great weather but will be colder tomorrow.
This time of year some the trees look like lanterns in the mornings and evenings.
November 4, 2025 at 2:07 AM
This time of year some the trees look like lanterns in the mornings and evenings.
The look of the male turtle is priceless
September 25, 2025 at 12:28 AM
The look of the male turtle is priceless
We did our annual pilgrimage to a local apple orchard and they were loaded this year! Probably the most I’ve seen in the 12ish years we’ve been doing this. Tasty as always!
September 7, 2025 at 7:14 PM
We did our annual pilgrimage to a local apple orchard and they were loaded this year! Probably the most I’ve seen in the 12ish years we’ve been doing this. Tasty as always!
August views from the yard were dominated by false sunflower but ironweed, black eyed Susan, and tall coreopsis are in the mix.
August 31, 2025 at 6:19 PM
August views from the yard were dominated by false sunflower but ironweed, black eyed Susan, and tall coreopsis are in the mix.
It’s ironweed season, love the color of purple flowers but this cluster in my front year are the size of a small tree!
August 19, 2025 at 8:22 PM
It’s ironweed season, love the color of purple flowers but this cluster in my front year are the size of a small tree!
Yard views, July edition
July 28, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Yard views, July edition
Refreshed after a sampling trip to New Mexico. It’s been awhile wince I’ve done some remote sampling. Good times and old trees!
July 26, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Refreshed after a sampling trip to New Mexico. It’s been awhile wince I’ve done some remote sampling. Good times and old trees!
First monarch 🐛 I’ve seen on my milkweed that I planted last year. Woo!
July 6, 2025 at 11:18 PM
First monarch 🐛 I’ve seen on my milkweed that I planted last year. Woo!
Purple coneflowers have spread this year
July 6, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Purple coneflowers have spread this year
Views from the yard, June edition
June 22, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Views from the yard, June edition
Various views from the yard
May 17, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Various views from the yard
It’s tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera) flowering season! I generally mark this as the official start to summer in my mind…. In southern Indiana at least
May 16, 2025 at 2:51 PM
It’s tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera) flowering season! I generally mark this as the official start to summer in my mind…. In southern Indiana at least
Eastern bluestar and wild indigo blooming in the yard.
May 11, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Eastern bluestar and wild indigo blooming in the yard.
Box turtle in our yard today! We live in town so I was surprised but happy to see this!
May 11, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Box turtle in our yard today! We live in town so I was surprised but happy to see this!
The flowers of the yellow buckeye always impresses me. Always excited to see it in bloom.
April 22, 2025 at 11:14 PM
The flowers of the yellow buckeye always impresses me. Always excited to see it in bloom.
Maples are loaded with seeds/flowers that will be seeds this year!
April 21, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Maples are loaded with seeds/flowers that will be seeds this year!
Other spring ephemerals are there as well.
April 20, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Other spring ephemerals are there as well.
Made the trip to an area locally called valley of the bluebells. It has been a few years since I last went, the bluebells have expanded!
April 20, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Made the trip to an area locally called valley of the bluebells. It has been a few years since I last went, the bluebells have expanded!
Trillium and other spring ephemerals in bloom in the woods on campus.
April 15, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Trillium and other spring ephemerals in bloom in the woods on campus.
Redbud season is in full bloom. The recent cold spell kept them in peak bloom for a bit longer this year.
The last pic is one our planted redbuds, flowering for the first year this year!
The last pic is one our planted redbuds, flowering for the first year this year!
April 14, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Redbud season is in full bloom. The recent cold spell kept them in peak bloom for a bit longer this year.
The last pic is one our planted redbuds, flowering for the first year this year!
The last pic is one our planted redbuds, flowering for the first year this year!
Some flowers around the yard.
April 12, 2025 at 11:48 PM
Some flowers around the yard.
It’s been rough. Today feels better with the arrival of some new toys. These will allow us to examine wood anatomy and better understand how trees produce wood throughout the year (xylogenesis). Research continues! One small way I resist.
April 9, 2025 at 5:54 PM
It’s been rough. Today feels better with the arrival of some new toys. These will allow us to examine wood anatomy and better understand how trees produce wood throughout the year (xylogenesis). Research continues! One small way I resist.
Redbud party is starting!
April 5, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Redbud party is starting!