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REPORTING LIVE FROM MONSON MASSACHUSETTS

Dear readers and subscribers: while the rest of the internet goes on and on about all of the topics it goes on and on about incessantly, here at the Sanguine Root, in our little corner of the internet, we are measuring Mayapples with a tape measure and discussing a very fascinating aspect of this specie’s morphological variations between New England and Southeastern Pennsylvania!

So welcome to this respite and its accompanied breath of fresh air as we discuss the differences in morphology between like populations.

Upon immediate observation, the Mayapples that grow in and around Monson Massachusetts are much bigger in every way than the ones that grow in Southeastern Pennsylvania. They are noticeably taller, and have much larger leaves and leaf spans. The stems are twice the thickness. It is a startling difference. I’ve not yet found anything written about this in the literature and would love to see it. We are going to present our hard data and make some reasoned arguments, so fasten your seatbelts.

So this is a large patch of Podophyllum peltatum, that I planted from a locally sourced donated specimen. The picture below has the leaf span clocking in at almost 22 inches!

Why are Massachusetts Mayapples so much bigger, larger, wider, taller than Pennsylvania Mayapples? The simplest explanation is probably the correct one: The only Mayapples that survived in Massachusetts are ones that can withstand the late Spring snowstorms, so the ones that had a genetic variation favoring larger and thus stronger stems survived over time, leading to the existing populations overwhelmingly having these features. They can survive the occasional late Spring snowstorm and still make it to flower. The Pennsylvania Mayapples are to a less of degree likely to have this problem and thus are more diminutive in their morphology. Why grow larger or any more taller than they need to?

Genetic variations within species between geographic regions is an endlessly fascinating topic!

The stem base at one inch! In Southeastern Pennsylvania, these are 1/2 inch! What a difference! Below is my cultivated patch.

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APRIL SHOWERS AND THE MAYAPPLE FLOWERS

Rain, rain and more rain! It is the end of April and suddenly now it’s May!! Our Dogwood in the backyard here in Philadelphia PA is losing its Bracts and they are landing on top of the not yet blooming Mayapples. I keep thinking thé Mayapples are blooming because the fallen Dogwood bracts make it look like they are blooming. But not yet upon closer inspection. Anyway, the Dogwood is already shedding its bracts!!

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REIMAGINING THE GIRARD AVENUE BRIDGE

The Girard Avenue bridge was imagined and resources were allocated in the public sphere to execute the vision of an elegant iron structure to bring visitors to the Philadelphia Zoo and to connect North and West Philadelphia. Cast iron swans were poured and integrated into the ornate railings. The bridge was built to accommodate trolleys and was grand and important. The city had made efforts to maintain it at a bare minimum. There was a decking upgrade project completed almost a quarter century ago, and SEPTA has maintained the trolley tracks, which will be soon graced with running revenue service newly refurbished vintage PCC trolleys, an exceptional feat!

The Bridge is still a ghost of its former self, rusting railings and decrepit masonry walls, bleak and barren. It is used heavily and is a lifeline between the the two Philadelphias. Pedestrian, auto and public transport all share the vast decking at a constant rate day and night.

The bridge needs to be restored and reimagined to meet the expectations and standards of a modern city that honors its past. The original vision needs restoration but the modern improvements such as walkable pedestrian lanes, dedicated bike lanes, dedicated and isolated trolley tracks and reasonable accommodations for cars as well (one lane each way instead of the current two lanes each way).

There must be an alternative solution to the hideous chain link fence around the whole thing! We can do better and we need to position ourselves as citizens to build a better bridge rather than tacitly accepting a questionable bare minimum.
Where is the Infrastructure money?? Where is it going?? When does it come our way??
This bridge could be a potential rallying issue to demand better of our city, society and local communities. Maybe not right this instant, just wait until it is closed down because it rusted away just like the Martin Luther King Drive bridge did and is now completely shut down until who knows when.