Nurse log

Listen
Prints
Copied!

In some forests where the trees grow tall and straight, like those in the US Pacific Northwest, when a giant tree falls it creates an opening in the forest canopy that lets in light for new growth to take foot.

The mighty fallen tree trunks themselves provide a new surface for seedlings to take root, away from the competition of the forest floor. When this happens, the fallen tree becomes an integral part of a new ecosystem.

Such fallen trees are known as nurse logs. Sometimes, a nurse log is so successful as a nursery for the young trees that they will grow along the full length of the fallen trunk. When the nurse log finally decays, it leaves behind a remarkable straight line of trees.

This sketch appears in my book Big Ideas Little Pictures

Related Ideas to Nurse Log

Not to be confused with phoenix trees
The browse line
Forest bathing
Mangroves
Ponderosa pine fire protections
The finger-dip test to not overwater houseplants
Identify a Douglas fir
Autumn leaves

Published 30 Aug 2020

Get the book!

Big Ideas Little Pictures

Prefer to listen?

Try the podcast

Sketchplanations is ad-free
thanks to supporters like you.

See more on Patreon

Keep exploring

Don't Think of an Elephant

Ghost fishing

The Droste effect

What is 2 factor authentication (2FA) and its meaning: using something you know, something you are, and something you have

What is Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)?

what is a Phoenix tree explained with a toppled tree shown pencil-sketch style with its roots still connected at one end, side branches along the trunk becoming trees in their own right, and one putting down roots

Phoenix trees

Who cut down the last tree?

When teaching framing at UC Berkeley, Professor George Lakoff would often begin with a simple test: "Don't think of an elephant." Except everyone does. When he said elephant, like it or not, all things elephant—large, slow, floppy ears, tusks, trunk, jungle, savannah—were likely to come to mind. Lakoff gives another example: When Richard Nixon came on TV and said, "I am not a crook," everyone thought about him as a crook, even though he explicitly said he wasn't. Another case he shares is when someone says tax relief, it evokes a frame whereby taxes are a burden, someone imposing those taxes is hurting people, someone relieving you of that hurt is helping you, and anyone who wants to stop that relief is a villain. Suppose you think taxes are good, not bad; if you use the term tax relief when arguing against it, you're setting yourself up as the villain. Using someone else's language draws you into their worldview. Some Framing Examples Here are some more everyday examples of framing at work: Taking sides in an argument suggests there has to be a winner and loser. When someone helps you, saying "I owe you one" frames the favour as a transaction to be repaid rather than a gift. Stay-at-home parent and working parent evokes a frame where staying at home isn't work. Quality time frames certain family moments as more valuable and implies that some time is less meaningful. Screen time evokes a frame of off-screen vs on-screen time, as opposed to considering the value of what you're doing, whether on-screen or off. Reframing Signage I love spotting signs that shift the frame in positive, thoughtful ways. Rather than presupposing bad behaviour, they invite good. For example, this sign from Kew Gardens: "Respecting Significant Trees Please help us manage our trees to ensure we can enjoy them for as long as possible. This tree needs a break from adults and children climbing on it. Please don't climb." Rather than setting Kew up as the rule-enforcer spoiling your fun, it frames them as caretakers—inviting you to help give a tired tree a break. Not climbing becomes an act of kindness, not a restriction. Not climbing becomes an act of respect rather than restriction. Our local wetlands has a "Ducks only" sign instead of an admonishing "Keep off the grass". Or at an ATM, even saying "Wait" rather than "Don't remove your card" helps keep removing your card further from your mind. A reader shared with me that as a lifeguard, he learned to yell "Walk!" rather than "Don't run!" A positive action to take is direct, rather than a negative that needs to be processed—see Point Positive. Language shapes and reflects how we think. Using language that negates a frame evokes the frame. What frames are you evoking? Related Ideas to Don't Think of an Elephant Everything I've learned about framing, metaphor, and how they shape our thinking continues to fascinate me. Here are some related sketches and powerful metaphors: Primary metaphor The Frog Boil Metaphor Rivers and Buckets Compliments are Gifts The Learning Pit The Swiss Cheese Model Trust Battery The Accountability Ladder Sharpen the Saw Ideas Are Locations, Objects, Food Framing Get More Participation: Instead of "Anything Else?" ask "What Else?"…When teaching framing at UC Berkeley, Professor George Lakoff would often begin with a simple test: "Don't think of an elephant." Except everyone does. When he said elephant, like it or not, all things elephant—large, slow, floppy ears, tusks, trunk, jungle, savannah—were likely to come to mind. Lakoff gives another example: When Richard Nixon came on TV and said, "I am not a crook," everyone thought about him as a crook, even though he explicitly said he wasn't. Another case he shares is when someone says tax relief, it evokes a frame whereby taxes are a burden, someone imposing those taxes is hurting people, someone relieving you of that hurt is helping you, and anyone who wants to stop that relief is a villain. Suppose you think taxes are good, not bad; if you use the term tax relief when arguing against it, you're setting yourself up as the villain. Using someone else's language draws you into their worldview. Some Framing Examples Here are some more everyday examples of framing at work: Taking sides in an argument suggests there has to be a winner and loser. When someone helps you, saying "I owe you one" frames the favour as a transaction to be repaid rather than a gift. Stay-at-home parent and working parent evokes a frame where staying at home isn't work. Quality time frames certain family moments as more valuable and implies that some time is less meaningful. Screen time evokes a frame of off-screen vs on-screen time, as opposed to considering the value of what you're doing, whether on-screen or off. Reframing Signage I love spotting signs that shift the frame in positive, thoughtful ways. Rather than presupposing bad behaviour, they invite good. For example, this sign from Kew Gardens: "Respecting Significant Trees Please help us manage our trees to ensure we can enjoy them for as long as possible. This tree needs a break from adults and children climbing on it. Please don't climb." Rather than setting Kew up as the rule-enforcer spoiling your fun, it frames them as caretakers—inviting you to help give a tired tree a break. Not climbing becomes an act of kindness, not a restriction. Not climbing becomes an act of respect rather than restriction. Our local wetlands has a "Ducks only" sign instead of an admonishing "Keep off the grass". Or at an ATM, even saying "Wait" rather than "Don't remove your card" helps keep removing your card further from your mind. A reader shared with me that as a lifeguard, he learned to yell "Walk!" rather than "Don't run!" A positive action to take is direct, rather than a negative that needs to be processed—see Point Positive. Language shapes and reflects how we think. Using language that negates a frame evokes the frame. What frames are you evoking? Related Ideas to Don't Think of an Elephant Everything I've learned about framing, metaphor, and how they shape our thinking continues to fascinate me. Here are some related sketches and powerful metaphors: Primary metaphor The Frog Boil Metaphor Rivers and Buckets Compliments are Gifts The Learning Pit The Swiss Cheese Model Trust Battery The Accountability Ladder Sharpen the Saw Ideas Are Locations, Objects, Food Framing Get More Participation: Instead of "Anything Else?" ask "What Else?"

Newer

RRandom

Older