I recently met conservationist Mick Verspuij in Buncranna, Donegal, Ireland . He makes natural habitats for bee hives using old dead tree trunks . Here he talks about pollen and the Sycamore Tree in his yard. He has a few tree stories for the Memory Palace of Trees Stories.
A sycamore tree, a semi mature or a mature tree can produce up to half a million flowers , so it’s a crucial crop for the honey bees because it is quite early in the season as well. And it’s all around the time where the colony really needs it most because they are expanding their in numbers very rapidly . By having just one of those trees on the ground , the same match as half an acre of wild flowers, which is actually surprisingly good because as it only takes up a tiny bit of space , it is brilliant for the bees.
At the end of May start of June , it’s an ideal time because they bring in so much . Once that tree goes to flower its like someone has just switched on a hairdryer inside the tree because the noise it makes is phenomenal , it just hums for two solid weeks , the bees make sure they collect all the pollen from it and all the nectar .
**********************
Open Call for your tree story on video
Memory Palace of Trees is socio- ecological art practice which invites your participation to tell a story (or give some kind of information) about trees. It is a social enquiry of how to live better with the planet and with people by sharing tree stories.
Memory Palace of Trees will continue throughout 2022. The submissions are video format. If you have a story you can tell in less than a minute , please find your favorite tree and video yourself on your phone telling the story. I can help with adding the English or Chinese subtitles. Please ensure the sound quality of your recording is clear as possible . If you have any questions about this please ask . Also, If you are in Beijing I can meet up with you and assist in the filming .
Looking forward to hearing from you.I can be contacted directly on this platform.
************************
Video 1： Empty Tendrils by Yvette Stride
Video 2：Pomegranate Tree by Han Chao
Video 3：Trees are Like Humans by Jenny Hong
Video 4：Old Ash A real survivor by Gillian Cussen
Video 5：Tree Rings of Life by Wang Ligeng
Video 6：A very Weird Elf by Zhu Jinghua
Video 7：Old Crabapple of Wenhua Dian by Matthew Hu
Video 8: Standing Fast by Joseph Stewart
Video 9: Feeling Good – Tree Song by Nam
Video 10: Forest Breath Niamh Cunningham
Video 11: Protective Peach – Ayse Emel Gümüs
I am currently gathering tree stories in the format of one minute videos but in January 2020 I collected stories in written format .
Most of these are personal stories. Submissions came from a range of different people in the US, Europe, Australia and Asia including a children’s writer, poets, dendrologists, artists, a dancer, a forester, an ant forest app user, photographers, academics and more.
See further down this page for these links.
Gingko Palace Sucrose Series 83 x 120 cm print on Aluminium Niamh Cunningham 2020 (week 15)
The Second Beech Niamh Cunningham 倪芙瑞莲2020 (week 17 of the Memory Palace of Trees)
Throughout 2020 different peoples tree stories were gathered from various people writers , artists, foresters , poets, and other people .
Ice Willow , Sucrose 8.7.2020 Print on Aluminium , Niamh Cunningham -Kosimas Willow Story
Memory Palace of Tree Stories began in January 2020. Throughout 2020 different peoples tree stories were gathered from various people writers , artists, foresters , poets, and other people .
- WEEK 2: WHY TREES WHISPER
- WEEK 3: THE KING HAS DONKEY’S EARS
- WEEK 4: WHY DO TRAFFIC POLICE LIKE TREES?
- WEEK 5: THE HEADACHE TREE
- WEEK 6: ON THE STROLL TO WORK
- WEEK 7: THE ANCIENT GINKGO TO WUHAN NO 5 HOSPITAL
- WEEK 8: THE TREE IN YOUR BACKYARD
- WEEK 9: OF TREES AND ME
- WEEK 10: FROZEN FRUIT
- WEEK 11: OF BAMBOO AND BIRDS
- WEEK 12: PARK TREE
- WEEK 13: TREES CAN COMMUNICATE
- WEEK 14: ELVES OF THE PLATEAU AND CORRIDOR FORESTS
- WEEK 15: ROOTS OF RECOVERY
- WEEK 16: SWAN GOOSE FOREST
- WEEK 17: THE BEECH TREE AND THE ACCIDENTAL ACADEMIC
- WEEK 18: GINKGO SOLITARY AND UNIQUE
- WEEK 19: THE TREE THAT OWNS ITSELF
- WEEK 20: BLUED TREES SYMPHONY
- WEEK 21: LIGUSTRUM LEAVES
- JUNE 2020: TREE CLIMBER
- JULY 2020: EMOJI TREES
- AUGUST 2020: THE HAWTHORNE TREE
- SEPTEMBER 2020: KOSIMA’S CORKSCREW WILLOW
- OCTOBER 2020: KAMPONG COCONUTS
- NOVEMBER 2020: DANCES WITH TREES
- DECEMBER 2020: ANT FOREST -PUSHING BACK THE DESERT
Chestnut – Park Tree Sucrose Series original Sucrose 50 x 50 cm Niamh Cunningham 2020 (week 12)
Open Call for your tree story on video
Memory Palace of Trees will continue in 2022. This year the submissions will be in video format. If you have a story you can tell in less than a minute (less than 60 seconds), please find your favorite tree sit under it and video yourself on your phone telling the story. I can help with the editing and add the English or Chinese subtitles. Please ensure the sound quality of your recording is clear. If you are in Beijing I can come and video you if you wish. Please ask if you have any questions about this.
Looking forward to hearing from you. Please email me at niamh@niamhcunningham.com
Jinan Tree Song Sucrose Series, print on aluminium 158 x 120cm Niamh Cunningham 2020
Here is a one minute video clip for the November 2020 tree story .
Ladybird of DongXiaokou (6 min 40 secs) video Niamh Cunningham 2020 Dancer: Zhang Yi , Music Credit: Ciorras