Such an ordinary tree, the sweetgum. Plentiful. Maybe too plentiful in Louisiana. An opportunistic species that seeds readily in an area disturbed by construction or a storm or whatever, quickly covering bare ground with glossy dark green, hand-shaped leaves. Then they spread rapidly, preventing slower species from getting started. Sweetgum seed balls are big and prickly and cover the ground in fall. Woe is the person who steps on one barefoot. Or wearing sneakers with openings in the soles. But those gumballs are full of seeds and the birds love them! So sweetgums are a bit of a “good news,…