490-How Leaves Conjure Up Our World

Joe Lamp'l (0:00)

Hi, everybody. This is Joe Lamp'l, the joe behind joegardener, and welcome to the joegardener Show.

My guest today is Professor Jonathan Silvertown, an evolutionary biologist and honorary professor at the Institute of Ecology and Evolution at the University of Edinburgh. Jonathan is a prolific writer, but his newest book is called Nature's Magicians, How Leaves Conjure Up Our World. As a certified lover of leaves, both in the trees and on the ground, I am fascinated with everything about them, from the many functions they serve while alive and long after they let go. And I think far too many of us, not us specifically, because I know I'm in good company here with my fellow leaf lovers, but for all the people who only see leaves primarily as a nuisance and something to get off their grass and out of their yards, if they only knew what we knew, there would be a lot less leaves going to the landfill. And today, I think we all may learn a new thing or two about leaves. Even so, leaves are so very familiar and they often go unnoticed. And yet, they clean the air we breed, they move more water from the soil to the sky than all the rivers on the planet combined. And they've evolved some ingenious tricks that may even change what you think you know, like about why leaves are green. Jonathan has published more than 130 specific papers, largely on plant population biology, and he's the author of nine books. In our discussion today, Jonathan reframes the humble leaf as a solar panel, a rainmaker, a chemistry set, a shapeshifter, a soil maker, and more.

It's grounded, science-based, and told with real wit and wonder. And before we get started, a quick heads up. Stick around after this interview, please, because I've got a favor to ask you, and honestly, it's one I should have asked a long time ago.

We are 10 weeks out from our 500th episode, and I want to hear from you about where this show goes next, the good, the bad, and everything in between. And I'll even share what I learned on episode 500 So stay with me to the wrap up for that. And if you want to jump ahead, feel free to do that. The link to the survey is at joegardener.com/podcastsurvey, all one word. Okay, so let's get into my leaf conversation with Professor Silvertown. And as we do, thanks to today's sponsors, Territorial Seed and The Ultimate Gardening Sheath.

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Professor Silvertown, I love the title of your book. It's one of my favorite topics. Welcome to the podcast.

Jonathan Silvertown (4:21)

Thank you. It's a real pleasure to be here.

Joe Lamp'l (4:22)

So as I always do, we like a little bit of the background on our guest for today. Of course, you have an extensive bio. I've already addressed that in the open of the show. Help us learn a little bit more about you and maybe a bit of your evolution, especially as it pertains to the subject of this book with trees and leaves and as you are sharing some of that with us.