Introduction

Dear Readers,

We are pleased to introduce the Spring 2013 issue of the Southeastern Geographer. For this issue, Grant Harley has contributed a full-color cover art photograph of a cross-section of a South Florida slash pine. In his essay, he describes how tropical trees are a frontier in the science of dendrochronology and a critical component in advancing our understanding of past climate change. Six research articles follow. The first of these, written by Bradley Macpherson and Mark de Socio, examines changing spatial patterns, morphologies, and functions of gasoline stations along Virginia's Eastern Shore. The next article, by Glenn Martin, Jeffrey Hepinstall-Cymerman, and Katherine Kirkman, documents six decades of landscape change on the Dougherty Plain of Southwestern Georgia. This is followed by a study by Brian Hutton, Kelsey Scheitlin, and Grady Dixon that shows an interesting correlation between the solar cycle and tropical cyclone activity in the Atlantic Basin. The fourth article, by Chris Henton, Andy Reese, Andrew Fleming, and Frank Heitmuller, examines the impacts of prescribed burns on vegetation regrowth and marsh surface elevation in Big Branch Marsh south of Slidell, Louisiana. Next, Krista Merry, Jacek Siry, Pete Bettinger, and J. M. Bowker use remotely-sensed imagery to assess potential urban tree planting sites in the Piedmont region of the American South. The last article of this issue, written by Ann Fletchall, explores the city of Pigeon Forge and its development as a postmodern tourist landscape. The issue concludes with two book reviews. The first, written by Ashley Carse, focuses on The Canal Builders: Making America's Empire at the Panama Canal, which examines the history of governance and labor during the Canal project. The second review, written by Matt Fry, evaluates David Owen's Green Metropolis: Why Living Smaller, Living Closer, and Driving Less Are the Keys to Sustainability.

We hope you enjoy this issue of the Southeastern Geographer. As always, we encourage you to submit research articles, cover art, geographic notes, and reviews for consideration in future issues of Southeastern Geographer.

Best regards,
Carl A. "Andy" Reese and David M. Cochran, Jr.
Co-Editors, Southeastern Geographer