Summary

In Chapter 5, Jahren talks about the “annual budget” of a deciduous tree (114). It has to grow all new leaves between spring and mid-summer. Each leaf has to be the correct size and orientation to make the most of the sunlight. A typical full-grown maple tree may have 35 pounds of leaves. The tree has to process about 8,000 gallons of water from the soil in order to gather the nutrients for the leaves. Jahren says that should make people think about the next rainfall.

Jahren then transfers her conversation to her own life, which is “ruled” by a budget that lasts three years. Every three years, research scientists have to go out in search of new funding from a relatively limited pool of money. The money for Jahren's type of research, which is sometimes termed “curiosity-driven,” is a small part...