Botanical geekery
Allow me to introduce you to Art Kruckeberg, the founder of the Seattle-adjacent Kruckeberg Botanic Garden, eminent plant scientist, and storehouse of knowledge. This 86-year-old is still going strong, leading tours of students on his property, which has now been purchased by the city of Shoreline, Washington as a conservation easement. When he bought his home on this property in 1957, the property was almost barren compared to what it looks like now (I do wish I had a photo of it from today, but it was dark by the time we left). He has collected rare plants from all over the world, including the rarest oak in cultivation today, a mutant tan oak (Lithocarpus densiflorus 'Attenuato-dentatus'). On the tour, Dr. Kruckeberg pointed with his dawn redwood cane to nearly every plant, providing the species information, native range, when the botanical garden obtained the specimen, and other little tidbits. Such an amazing gentleman, fabulous garden, and incredible legacy. When I eventually own a parcel of land, I want it to be something like his: the concept of "yard" pushed toward obscurity with paths leading in between native and exotic species of plants in its place.
What a great day.