Wednesday 29 February 2012

Trees?


Last weeks post was about the word bark, specifically tree bark. This week it's all about trees.

Trees symbolize life, growth, eternity, knowledge, achievement and liberty and are used as the basis for mapping our ancestral heritage.




Most of us are familiar with the poem "Trees" by Joyce Kilmer:
      I think that I shall never see
      A poem lovely as a tree.
      A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
      Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;
      A tree that looks at God all day,
      And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
      A tree that may in Summer wear
      A nest of robins in her hair;
      Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
      Who intimately lives with rain.
      Poems are made by fools like me,
      But only God can make a tree.


And Ogden Nash wrote:
I think that I shall never see
A billboard lovely as a tree!
Perhaps, unless the billboards fall,
I'll never see a tree at all.

I find walking along a forest path is a peaceful and meditative experience; I live fairly near the city so being able to escape into one of the the forest parks with no view of the city and with muffled city noise and occasionally only the sound of the wind in the tops of the trees is bliss. A tree lined avenue, like this one in Italy, makes for a peaceful walk.


 An Arbutus Tree, Canada's only broadleaved evergreen tree
An ancient grove of Olive Trees

Trees are given life in Tolkein's "Lord of the Rings" with their herders the "Ents" and play a part in the battle against evil in Middle Earth.

They provide food and shelter for animals and birds, have been used to build shelter and provide fuel for humans, domesticated and planted, used to stabilize topsoil.  Our distant ancestors probably lived in them before descending to explore the savannahs.

Tree in Hawaii with massive above ground roots

Hala Tree

Tree with roots undercut by Skeena River

Breadfruit Tree
Lemon Tree
These solid denizens of nature offer many faces to the world and occasionally take on some humorous forms. None of these images has been altered or enhanced. This one looks as if it is chewing on a cigar.


This tree with its bashful face stands near a path at Jericho beach, a walk I often take, and makes me smile every time I walk past. Below is a close up of the "face".



No idea how the base of this tree got to look like this , in fact not even sure if it is PG13.




A comical face

A pig in profile?

A clown?

Not sure what this one is.

Some elephant like qualities here

If it weren't for trees where would birds perch and nest and where would we hang our feeders and hammocks? On a recent sunny winter's day I saw this person enjoying the park in his own special way.
relaxing at the beach



Anna's Hummingbird perching in a yellow cedar

Every Christmas someone decorates this tree in the park; I don't know who or why but it has become an expected part of winter season walks. 

Thank you for joining me on this walk with and through the trees, happy Whimsy Wednesday, until next week.........




24 comments:

  1. Fantastic collection of tree shots. I enjoyed all the different species you showed us. I love trees!

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  2. love, love, love trees! too funny, my post today is titled 'man, i love trees!' :)

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  3. Out my window I see the trees bending a little in the breeze. Birds flutter from branch to branch and squirrels travel the tree stems as if they were running along a super highway. The formations and twists of gnarled trees seem like works of art as your photos illustrate. I have a favorite tree that shades me from the sun in summer. Your post is a great reminder of the necessity and essence of trees. :)

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  4. Wow! You have a wonderful collection of tree photos!

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  5. This is a most wondrous post on trees! Your photographs are outstanding! My husband and I love trees so much we are currently building a home surrounded by stunning trees. This post is oh so very beautiful Gillian!

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  6. Beautiful wonderful post. I'm with you.. I love love love trees!

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  7. I truly enjoyed seeing all your photos of all these trees. I love your interpretation they gave me a smile!! Thanks so much for sharing them with us..

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  8. Such a nice collection of tree photos you have, the first few remind me of the trees in Stanley Park. Love the blue bulbs in the last one.

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  9. I'm really impressed: i love trees ...how dis you guess? LOVELY...amazing trees - Thank you!
    BShell

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  10. Gillian, my hubby and I are both tree lovers and this post is just awesome. I loved all the trees and your beautiful photos. Thanks for sharing, have a wonderful day.

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  11. Oh I LOVE your trees! Excellent post!!

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  12. What a wonderful series of varied trees! Whenever I stand under the aged large trees. I feel embraced and supported by the calm but powerful energy of the tree.

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  13. A great collection. They are magical. Love that one of you among its roots.

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  14. cool, trees comes in every thinkable shape and form. And colors too. I love them. Thanks for sharing.

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  15. Love of trees, who can wish to harm it. I LOVE them in their form. I think that you love them too.

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  16. I love trees and you have a great range of very interesting ones here Gillan.

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  17. I especially love the photo of theancient grove of Olive Trees. They stand up majestically and look like ancient sages. I always admire mysterious power of the trees. When I touch them, I feel as if I were recharged. Thanks for sharing the great story about trees.
    This is a tribute to trees!
    Have a great weekend!
    keiko

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  18. Wonderful images Gillian and yes I also see all those faces... so lovely to see.

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  19. Hello, Gillian. I love the idea that a fellow blogger has taken time to photograph some of the same trees that I have known and appreciated. Today, you helped me to see an old favourite in a new way. As many times as I have admired the "bashful face" tree, I hadn't picked up on that image. Thank you! By the way, I talked to some family members putting up the decorations. They told me they were honouring the memory of their sister. Lovely idea! Oh, and beautiful shot of the hummingbird!

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  20. I really like the photo with the hammock :) I think that trees are fascinating. Maybe I'm very predictable because, every time somebody mentions the word 'tree', I think of John Constable.

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  21. I stopped by this morning to try and catch up on my blog reading, but couldn't leave a comment. Blogger seems to be cooperating now. Anyway, WOW on those trees. You sure found an odd variety. Love the faces.

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  22. beautiful set of trees. other people here decorate also their trees with easter eggs.

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  23. I love all your photos. A few of the cherry blossom trees are blooming and I love watching them.

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  24. I love this post with so many unusual tree photos. You have captured some great photos!

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