The Princess Pines

Lately, I have been talking with my mother about her impressions of the New England landscape as a part of my artistic research, I was really surprised by her initial response that for her the source of the woods "magic" could be traced to a single plant: The Princess Pine. This minature tree grows low along the forest floor in shallow soil over rocks. The plants are actually "fern-allies" and although they are categorized as "ground pines." To find out more go to the University of MN extension site:
Last year, 170,000 ounds of Princess Pine was harvested from Midwestern forests last year for floral decorations.

http://www.extension.umn.edu/specializations/environment/components/lycopodium1.html

Times article on Internet monitoring of new construction

An article in the Sunday New York Times points to the use of the internet as an important new tool is tracking new development and construction in older communities. Often communities close to major cities that are rapidly becoming suburbs may feel that they have little control over the types of developments springing up around them. I thought this community blog did an excellent job of at least documenting the changes in their town, and providing people with a space to comment on the teardown and redevelopment of existing homes (mostly ranch houses built in the mid-1940s). The article focuses on the town of Montclair, NJ but I know I have witnessed similar types of development projects in the older suburbs of Chicago, IL in distant emerging suburbs like Ludlow, MA and even in the rural college town of Athens, OH.
Here is a link to the blog: http://www.baristanet.com
You will find a link to the New York Times article under her October 1, 2006 entry.