Throughout Madison County, much of our forest is dominated by a tall, pale-barked tree that grows ramrod straight. Often called “yellow poplar” by loggers and sawmill owners, it’s also known as “tulip ...

A few years ago, a thin, rust-colored trunk grew up in the shade between a lemon tree and a tangerine tree in our backyard. It took me by surprise when I realized that trunk did not belong to the ...