Vault: Botanical Gardens tells the name of the "Spunk Tree"

Summary

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Podcast Summary:

The Bert Show — Vault: Botanical Gardens tells the name of the "Spunk Tree"
Release Date: July 14, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode of The Bert Show revisits a recurring, quirky Atlanta mystery: what is the infamous "spunk tree" that gives off a particularly pungent, distinctly suggestive smell every spring? To settle the debate once and for all, the hosts invite Valerie from the Atlanta Botanical Garden to provide her expert input and share some laughs along the way.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Annual "Spunk Tree" Debate

• [01:11] The hosts explain this is a recurring dilemma on the show; every year, as the weather warms up, listeners call in about the strong, spunky odor in neighborhoods.
• They clarify: "It just smells like dude's spunk...and we know that it's not a Bradford pear because we've gone down this road..."

Expert Weigh-In: Valerie from the Botanical Garden

• [01:08] Valerie, plant expert from Atlanta Botanical Garden, joins to try to solve the mystery.
• Valerie admits she wasn’t briefed on the exact question and learns for the first time they're talking about the so-called "spunk tree."
• [01:38] Her initial guess: "The only thing I can think right now is a ginkgo biloba. That is a female tree that puts out fruits. But I think it might be too early for that."
• The hosts mention other suggestions from callers, such as the Chinese chestnut and the Bradford pear.

Attempts to Solve the Mystery

• [02:01] Valerie confirms, "Yeah, you know, and we have one [Chinese chestnut], but I haven't smelled spunk in the garden."
• Hosts and Valerie share a laugh about the phrase "spunk in the garden."
• Plenty of playful banter about the meaning of "spunk," with Valerie gamely confirming multiple times that she does know what they mean.
• [02:24] Jeff jokes: "Jeff can really relate because he has funky spunk" and that his neighbors have nicknamed him "Spunky Brewster."

The Suspects:

• Bradford Pear: Frequently blamed, but ruled out by listeners and the show multiple times.
• Chinese Chestnut: Mentioned by a caller but not likely, according to Valerie.
• Female Ginkgo Tree: Valerie's best initial guess.
• All three are left as possibilities with further research promised.

Commitment to Follow-Up

• [02:55] The hosts ask Valerie to look into it further and call back with a definitive answer.
  • Valerie promises: "I will do my best. And I'm part of your 5:30 club." She’ll call in the early morning segment with her findings.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "It just smells like dude's spunk... we know that it's not a Bradford Pear because we've gone down this road with you guys before, but we always forget what the name of the tree is." — Show Host [01:16]
• "The only thing I can think right now is a ginkgo biloba. That is a female tree that puts out fruits. But I think it might be too early for that." — Valerie from Botanical Gardens [01:38]
• "I haven't smelled spunk in the garden." — Valerie from Botanical Gardens [02:08]
• "Jeff can really relate because he has funky spunk." — Show Host [02:24]
• "My neighbors drive by and scream Spunky Brewster at me. It's my nickname." — Co-Host 2 [02:39]
• "If you don't have time to call us late in the show, you can call us during the 5:30 club and tell us and we'll just play it late." — Show Host [03:04]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:02 — Valerie joins the show and learns the topic.
• 01:16 – 02:10 — Identification attempts (Bradford pear, Chinese chestnut, ginkgo biloba)
• 02:14 – 02:24 — Lighthearted clarification about the term “spunk”
• 02:24 – 02:43 — Jeff’s neighborhood “spunk” stories and jokes
• 02:55 – 03:10 — Valerie commits to updating the show with her research

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Episode Tone & Vibe

True to The Bert Show style, the segment is a blend of genuine curiosity, slightly irreverent humor, and community banter. Valerie brings expertise but also joins in with the spirit of fun, despite the quirky subject matter.

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Transcript

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[Show Host]

Valerie from the botanical gardens has joined us. She has come to save the day. Hey, Valerie. Good morning.

[Valerie from Botanical Gardens]

Good morning.

[Show Host]

How are you today?

[Valerie from Botanical Gardens]

I'm great. How are you?

[Show Host]

We have just had the same conversation an hour ago that we have every other year on the show.

[Valerie from Botanical Gardens]

Okay.

[Show Host]

And it is about the spunk trees around Atlanta. You open up your door and you could smell these trees that are so pungent and it just smells like dude's spunk. And we know that it's not a Bradford pear because we've gone down this road with you guys before, but we always forget what the name of the tree is.

[Valerie from Botanical Gardens]

Oh, man.

[Co-Host 1]

Oh, no.

[Show Host]

You don't know?

[Co-Host 2]

You don't know?

[Valerie from Botanical Gardens]

No. It was funny because a friend of mine emailed me and said, you're asking a question. She didn't tell me what the question was. So I'm wondering. I was sitting here thinking, what are they gonna ask me? The only thing I can think right now is a ginkgo biloba. That is a female tree that puts out fruits. But I think it might be too early for that.

[Show Host]

Somebody called earlier and said that. But somebody also. Does Chinese chestnut ring a bell at all?

[Valerie from Botanical Gardens]

Yeah, you know, and we have one, but I haven't smelled spunk in the garden.

[Show Host]

She never thought she'd ever say those words. Atlanta Botanical Garden, spunk in the garden.

[Co-Host 2]

You know what we mean by. You know what we mean by spunk, right?

[Valerie from Botanical Gardens]

I do, yeah.

[Show Host]

Okay.

[Co-Host 2]

You know, I mean, you understand what we're getting at when we say spunk?

[Valerie from Botanical Gardens]

I do, yes.

[Co-Host 2]

Are you sure?

[Valerie from Botanical Gardens]

I am positive.

[Jeff]

Jeff can really relate because he has funky spunk

[Show Host]

he's got one of these spunk trees in his yard now.

[Valerie from Botanical Gardens]

Really?

[Show Host]

Yeah. And I think more than anything else, we're just trying to warn people to not plant this particular tree. Unless you want to smell spunk all the time.

[Co-Host 2]

My neighbors drive by and scream Spunky Brewster at me. It's my nickname.

[Co-Host 1]

Oh, my God. So three trees keep coming up. Is the Bradford pear as listeners call up the Chinese chestnut and then what you said the ginkgo female tree.

[Show Host]

Can you look those up today and tell us, I mean, and call us tomorrow and give us a definite answer?

[Valerie from Botanical Gardens]

I will do my best. And I'm part of your 5:30 club. Oh, cool.

[Show Host]

If you don't have time to call us late in the show, you can call us during the 5:30 club and tell us and we'll just play it late.

[Valerie from Botanical Gardens]

Okay, that's what I'll do.

[Co-Host 1]

All right. Thank you.

[Jeff]

Thank you, Valerie.

[Show Host]

Thank you, thank you.

[Valerie from Botanical Gardens]

Have a great day.

[Co-Host 1]

You too. Valerie should call her friend and say, why didn't you tell me?

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[Jeff]

You give me a heads up.

[Co-Host 1]

God, you took me off.

[Jeff]

So frustrating.

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