Gratitude 55: Trees

 

In addition to flowers, I love to photograph trees.  These are a stand of Sycamore trees found in Brookside Gardens in Silver Spring, MD.  Trees are magnificent!  They offer shade from the sun, something we have needed as of late.  Their wood can be crafted into all manner of furniture, tools, or buildings. We burn wood for fuel, or mulch them for our gardens.  One of my favorite places to read years ago, was sitting on the ground leaning against a gargantuan Willow tree growing beside a gentle stream.  Well, I didn’t actually get a lot of reading done, but I was able to ponder nature’s glory while I sat there.  Another tree was a Mimosa tree that my brothers and I would climb in.  It grew in our back yard and one could usually find a kid or two crawling up its branches–us or the neighbor kids.  Here in Virginia, there is a Weeping Cherry Blossom Tree that we pass every Shabbat on our way to shul (synagogue.)  Its branches almost touch the ground, and it shades the entire yard and sidewalk.  As we walk into the enclosure its branches create, the temperature drops and we stand for a few moments enjoying the coolness before we walk on toward our destination.  When we get our house, I want one of those trees in our yard.  There are other trees that I enjoy, each offering a particular characteristic that I like: Dogwoods, Cherry Blossoms, Oaks of all kinds, various kinds of Willows, Beechwood, Sycamores, and the list goes on.  In the autumn I love to see the vivid reds of the Maples, and in the late winter to taste the syrup that is made from its sap.  I am indeed grateful for trees of all kinds!

Related articles

• Gratitude 25: Mimosa Trees (perpetualgratitude.wordpress.com)
• Tree health, pest problems and the neighbor’s trees | Dennis Tompkins (pnwlocalnews.com)
• Home owners urged to be cautious of tree root damage (money.marksandspencer.com)
• A Tree Grows (theawl.com)
• First Photo: Flagged Red Spruce Trees (kpjdca.wordpress.com)
• Dreaming of Willow Trees: Through a Child’s Eyes (CV) (allthesnoozethatsfittoprint.wordpress.com)
• Emerald Ash Borer Beetle Doing Incredible Damage To Area Trees (newyork.cbslocal.com)
• What is the story behind the origin of the pine tree (wiki.answers.com)
• Rainy Days (breaaire.wordpress.com)
• Trees (traskman.wordpress.com)
• Fig Trees: Before, During, and After being pruned! (redgardenclogs.wordpress.com)
• Mindful Speech Day Eight – Speak With Gratitude and Appreciation (healthynurse.wordpress.com)
• When you cut down trees is it killing people (wiki.answers.com)
• Unusual Tree Off Noreika Road (bigbasslakemi.wordpress.com)

Gratitude 25: Mimosa Trees

 

 

In the early ’60’s our family moved to the little town of Greenwood, Louisiana, just outside of Shreveport, and also near the town of Waskom, Texas.  In our large back yard, the best climbing tree ever–EVER–grew next to a chain-link fence.  A Mimosa, every summer it’s pinkish reddish fuzzy blossoms would decorate the tree, adding color and unique beauty in my eyes.  I spent a lot of time in that tree.  Many years later, after my kids were grown and gone, we moved to Silver Spring, Maryland.  Due to the haste to relocate so that Richard could start his new job right away, he moved to Maryland one month ahead of me and found a house for us to live in.  Imagine my surprise and joy when I first saw the house, and after walking through it, looking out the back door and seeing a Mimosa Tree!  Not only was it the kind of tree I use to climb and play in, it grew in the same location of the yard, next to a chain-link fence as the tree of my childhood.  I am much bigger now so climbing trees is out of the question, and the tree that grew in Maryland was in no way large enough yet to be considered a climbing tree, but it still triggered fond memories of summer fun from years gone by.  When we left Silver Spring, I was truly sad to leave the tree behind. I am grateful for Mimosa Trees!