Dreams of Green

By Arthur Trickett-Wile with AV Arkansas

Riding the tallest of the big bamboo, you get what they call rhizome fever and sharpen your shovel. When the dreams of green come, we’ll meet in the bamboo woods… and if not there, well, see you at the end of the world.

 
DREAMS OF GREEN—On an early Thursday morning, Dale Almond ("like the nut") is out in a Little Rock grove, harvesting bamboo for a transplant job. Here, he compares young and mature leaves for the camera. "The new ones look like toothpicks," he says.

DREAMS OF GREEN—On an early Thursday morning, Dale Almond ("like the nut") is out in a Little Rock grove, harvesting bamboo for a transplant job. Here, he compares young and mature leaves for the camera. "The new ones look like toothpicks," he says. (1/15)

”That shovel has probably made me 30,000 dollars," he says of his "sharpshooter," which he uses to sever the tough roots when he digs. (2/15)

”That shovel has probably made me 30,000 dollars," he says of his "sharpshooter," which he uses to sever the tough roots when he digs. (2/15)

A close-up of Dale's necklace. When he used to sell bamboo down at the Little Rock River Market, he'd sometimes make and sell jewelry, too. (3/15)

A close-up of Dale's necklace. When he used to sell bamboo down at the Little Rock River Market, he'd sometimes make and sell jewelry, too. (3/15)

Dale throws his shovel into the earth around each plant. "You have to go all the way around, and have a good aim, to stay in the same slot." (4/15)

Dale throws his shovel into the earth around each plant. "You have to go all the way around, and have a good aim, to stay in the same slot." (4/15)

An "aborted" bamboo shoot, which might've otherwise been the beginning of a new plant, sitting on the roof of his truck. Out in the forest, Dale tells me, "They look like little pointy asparagus, comin' up." (5/15)

An "aborted" bamboo shoot, which might've otherwise been the beginning of a new plant, sitting on the roof of his truck. Out in the forest, Dale tells me, "They look like little pointy asparagus, comin' up." (5/15)

Dale pries a rootball out of the ground. "If you don't get every one of 'em, these will not come up," he says of the rhizomes. (6/15)

Dale pries a rootball out of the ground. "If you don't get every one of 'em, these will not come up," he says of the rhizomes. (6/15)

On his phone, Dale shows me an image of an Indonesian man climbing bamboo stalks, something he himself used to do as a child. (7/15)

On his phone, Dale shows me an image of an Indonesian man climbing bamboo stalks, something he himself used to do as a child. (7/15)

"This here's a heavy one," Dale says, straining to lift a rootball into his cart. (8/15)

"This here's a heavy one," Dale says, straining to lift a rootball into his cart. (8/15)

Dale rolls the plants back to his truck. (9/15)

Dale rolls the plants back to his truck. (9/15)

Dale heaves, lifting the rootball into his truckbed. "I'm gettin' too old to do this.” (10/15)

Dale heaves, lifting the rootball into his truckbed. "I'm gettin' too old to do this.” (10/15)

Dale's hat, which I found temporarily misplaced (though still right at home) amongst the leaves. (11/15)

Dale's hat, which I found temporarily misplaced (though still right at home) amongst the leaves. (11/15)

Dale moves his truck to keep the bamboo plants in the back out of the sunlight. "The Gypsy wagon, man! It stays full of crap like this all the time." (12/15)

Dale moves his truck to keep the bamboo plants in the back out of the sunlight. "The Gypsy wagon, man! It stays full of crap like this all the time." (12/15)

"See, that's a rhizome there I snipped." (13/15)

"See, that's a rhizome there I snipped." (13/15)

Dale tarps up the plants to keep their leaves protected during transport. It helps to ensure they transplant well. (14/15)

Dale tarps up the plants to keep their leaves protected during transport. It helps to ensure they transplant well. (14/15)

As he finishes loading his truck, he's ready to head over to the transplant site, with his trusty cart, his shovel, and dreams of green. (15/15)

As he finishes loading his truck, he's ready to head over to the transplant site, with his trusty cart, his shovel, and dreams of green. (15/15)