무슨 냄새 야? Dreaded Bradford Pear입니다.

진홍빛 가을 색과 대조를 이루는 푹신한 흰색 꽃 이 봄에 피는 모습이 예쁘다 . 그리고 그것은 한때 미국 전역의 세분 계획자들의 사랑이었습니다. 그러나 나무는 그 명성을 끌어 올리는 (일부는 본질적으로 성적인) 결점의 전체 캐노피를 가지고있는 것으로 밝혀졌습니다.-여기에 추가 된 비유에 대해 죄송합니다-곧바로 땅에 떨어졌습니다.

그 중에는 부서지기 쉬운 구조, 이기적인 방식, 열악한 자기 관리, 그리고 – 솔직히 말해서 – 그것이 지독하게 난잡하다는 사실이 있습니다. 또한 이것은 식물에 특정한 결점입니다. 여기에서도 마찬가지입니다!

워싱턴 포스트 에 따르면 이 나무는 "악몽", "환경 시한 폭탄", "수십 년 동안 계속 퍼져 나가야 할 생태학적인 약탈자"입니다. New York Times는 단순히 "가장 멸시받는 나무" 라고 부릅니다 .

그리고 그것은 세계의 대부분의 사람들 (이 작가를 제외하고는)이 불쾌하다고 생각하는 나무의 냄새에 대해서도 이야기하지 않습니다. 혐오 자, 트롤, 똑 바른 언론인들은 The Times 에 따르면 "정액과 썩은 살점"과 같은 냄새가 난다고 말합니다 . 또는 Reddit의 누군가에 따르면 "성인 극장의 개인 부스"처럼.

또는 "약간 썩은 물고기"처럼. 마지막 설명은 "애틀랜타의 도시 숲을 보호하고 개선"한다는 사명을 가지고 조지아 수도의 비영리 단체 인 Trees Atlanta 의 기부자이자 홍보 관리자 인 Alex Beasley의 호의 입니다.

그는 브래드 포드 배를 좋아하지 않는다.

"나는 개인적으로 아무도이 나무 향이 기분 좋다고 언급하는 것을 들어 본 적이 없다"고 Beasley는 말한다. "끔찍한 것 같아요."

잠깐, 나무가 좋지 않아?

좋아요, 그럼 나무에서 냄새가납니다. 그러나 그것은 나무 입니다. 그것은 우리에게 산소를 제공합니다. 극심한 폭풍, 가뭄 및 수많은 관련 질병과 같은 명백한 기후 변화의이 끔찍한 세상에서 우리가 얻을 수있는 모든 나무가 필요하지 않습니까? 나무를 더 많이 안고 나무를 싫어하는 사람은 더 적게 필요하지 않습니까?

Well, yes, say Beasley (who is also a landscape architect ) and countless other arborists and environmentalists. But the issues with the Bradford pear are motley and manifold.

Its top offenses, aside from the smell, are that it's invasive to the United States. A version of it, the Callery pear, was brought over from Chinato the Northwest U.S. in the early 20th century, in an effort led in part by botanist David Fairchild, who is known as "the guy who helped bring the Japanese cherry blossoms" to Washington, D.C.

The Callery was thought to be resistant to fire blight, a serious bacterial disease that affects other pear trees. The idea was to use the Callery "as a rootstock onto which varieties of the European pear could be grafted."

Fast-forward to 1960: Tree scientists at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Glenn Dale, Maryland, released the Bradford pear — a cultivar of the Callery — to the public. It didn't matter that it was pear-less, despite its name. "People went bonkers," in a good way, The New York Times noted.

The tree seemed perfect for suburban America: a nice, neat canopy shape; not too big; seemingly hardy and showy colors in spring and fall. It became commonplace in the U.S., from north to south, east to west.

"Much like a crape myrtle is today, for a time this was the hot tree for contractors and home builders to plant," says Beasley. "It was easily sourced, fast-growing ... and virtually indestructible." All was well in the world.

And then it was not.

Here to Stay?

Through the years and decades, problems with this pear tree emerged. The smell was one thing. But upon maturity, Bradford pears and their V-crotch of branches become structurally weak. "We've been cleaning up its storm damage" ever since, Beasley says.

Once the tree put down its roots in North America, however, it wasn't going anywhere — in part, because it so easily propagates. Six months after blooming, the Bradford offers clusters of seedy berries to birds, who then fly away, poop out the seeds and spread the tree to new forests.

또한 브래드 포드 배는 탐욕 스럽다고 나무 전문가들은 말한다. 그들의 뿌리는 물을 너무 잘 흡수하여 주변의 식물과 나무에 부정적인 영향을 미치는 것으로 알려져 있습니다.

"만약 사람들이이 나무 중 하나를 심을 때 수많은 야생 동물이 의존하고있는 숲의 나무를 파괴 할 수있는 힘을 가진 다른 나무를 100 개 심었을 것입니다."라고 Beasley는 말합니다.

불평하기에 너무 늦었습니까?

The tree's invasive qualities certainly stand out, it cannot be denied. But, for a devil's advocate perspective, let's consider a counterpoint: The world is now filled with invasive species, thanks largely to what some argue is the most invasive species of all: us, Homo sapiens. As we have conquered the globe, we have helped spread untold numbers of plant and animal life, which have decimated untold numbers of previously "native" species around the world.

With that in mind, does there come a time when "invasiveness" just becomes "reality"?

Beasley answers unequivocally: The fight is still on.

"Never replant with an invasive species," he says. "This is about as bad as intentionally planting English ivy in your yard. You're dooming your neighbors for generations.

"When there is an opportunity to replant to help mend past damages to our urban forest, why not take it?" he asks. "Trade out crape myrtle for a native hornbeam. Trade out Leyland cypress for eastern red cedar. Trade out a Bradford pear for an oak.

"I just do not know how it's legal to sell plants that we know are invasive," he continues. "[Ban them] for the same reason you can no longer smoke on airplanes — it adversely affects others. How can we buy a plant that is so destructive to our forests and causes millions (if not billions) in tax dollar remediation?"

Until then, what to do?

It's spring. The Bradford pears are blooming. The next time you pass one, take a deep breath. If you don't like the smell, hold your nose, and perhaps complain about it online. And daydream.

"If I only had a DeLorean," Beasley says, referencing the time-traveling automobile in the "Back to the Future" movie franchise. "Yes, I'd wipe this tree from the American landscape."

Strong words. But not out of line with popular opinion. While it was briefly a celebrated member of the U.S. flora landscape, to be a Bradford pear tree these days really stinks.

Now That's Interesting

The native dogwood tree, like the Bradford pear, blooms white flowers in spring. But it's celebrated — literally. Every year, a number of cities and towns hold festivals in its honor.

Originally Published: Mar 21, 2019