Episode Details

A few weeks before my wedding, a tree started singing.

Christopher and I were standing beside an old pond, preparing to say our vows beneath its branches, when we heard a sound neither of us could explain. We listened. Then we moved our ceremony.

Days later, Hurricane Helene forever changed the landscape around us.

This week on Stable Roots, we follow the language of the forest through folklore, forestry, science, and one unforgettable South Carolina forester who seemed to live on an entirely different timeline. Along the way, we explore the mystery of Dropped Bough Syndrome, Tolkien's Ents, and what healthy trees can teach us about carrying too much for too long.

Perhaps the trees have been speaking all along.

In this episode:

- The tree that changed our wedding plans

- Hurricane Helene and the forests of the Upstate

- The mystery of Summer Branch Drop

- Meeting a real-life "Ent"

- Why foresters think in decades instead of deadlines

- What trees can teach us about letting go

If you enjoy these weekly essays, subscribe to Stable Roots. Every Thursday you'll receive a new story from Bramblewood Stables at Lavender Hill, along with its companion voiceover. Paid subscribers become part of the farm collective, helping sustain the writing, the farm, and this growing community rooted in curiosity, resilience, and the quiet work of paying attention.

Thank you for listening.

Love, Kim