modern day tree hugger
it’s been many years now that i’ve called myself a modern day tree hugger. i love trees. i love to plant trees, i love to give trees, i love to buy books about trees and i love to be in trees.
growing up, i was a tree climber. one of my favorite trees was on my walking route to school each day. a glorious weeping willow tree perched in front of a mysterious house with low branches inviting the neighbor kids to stop, put down our backpacks and enjoy a good climb before untangling our limbs from the tree and heading home to open our books and eat our supper.
in honor of arbor day this month, i want to make a few tree related suggestions.
• check out the arbor day website and get 10 ready-to-plant trees sent to you by paying the membership fee of $10
• on the same site (and one of my personal favorites) you can buy note cards for $5.95 ea and a tree will be planted with each purchase of a card. this way, when you are running late to a birthday gathering and have nothing to bring, you can write out a simple card and give the gift of a tree all at once.
• visit washington park and explore the many tree species of the hoyt arboretum or on the wildwood trail.
• get out this month and join a planting team with our local planting organization friends of trees.
above all…look around you and enjoy the trees that clean our air, cool our land, shad our homes and provide such fond memories of climbing fun! happy april!
April 6, 2009
the tree in your picture above looks like a perfect one for me to climb, at four-foot-eleven there aren’t too many i can tackle : D
April 7, 2009
You come by your love of trees naturally, you know. Trees often speak to those that will stop and take a look, gaze into the beauty of the tree and wonder of its life. What has it been like, the struggles of the tree, from year to year…has it been hard (with little moisture or many pests)? Or has it been a good year? To look at its formation and wonder why a particular branch has grown a certain way. I have often enjoyed throwing out a blanket at the base of the tree and lay flat on my back and spend hours looking up into the tree and just view all the beauty of the tree. To watch the leaves move in the gentle breeze. The Tamarack tree (western larch), is a facinating tree. It loses it needles every fall, after becoming a beautiful golden yellow ,amongst the sea of evergreens in the forest. Then in the spring, the needles return. If you find one on a hiking trip, stop, take a gander, and then feel the soft, beginning of life, as the needles are so sweetly new. There is a special feeling that I simply can not put into words when touching these needles. My husband sometimes looks at me funny, as if to say, “come on, we have hiking to do”, yet again, I beleive he is in awe-somewhat, as to how I find beauty around me. We all find it in different ways, however, a tree just has something special about it. I could go on and on, but will only say that my life needs to slow a bit so that I can get back to the life long activity of enjoying the beauty of trees.
April 8, 2009
wow…you learn something everyday. i had no idea that i came by this love so naturally. i’m so thankful for the ways that i’m like you. i’m always telling people what an outstanding woman you are. thanks for passing on your wisdom! i love you!
April 9, 2009
Well…are you happy that you have a nose just like mine? I can’t take the blame for it though, because it originated with your Grandpa. We do have so many things in common and I’m so thankful to have you as a loving daughter. Thanks for all the compliments, your love, your dedication to family and business and being a great relational person along with your desire to give back to your community.