I realized as the weekend went by that I have started noticing tree trunks and how they are all so different. Someone mentioned this in a post and if I remember who it was, I will link to her. She was talking about how she wonders why we always color a tree trunk and branches brown when they are nearly all some other color. I thought this was interesting and ever since reading her thoughts I have been fascinated by the different colors and textures of tree trunks.
Magnolia trunk
Birch trunk
Oak trunk
Our trip to Oregon gave us some good tree memories. Here are a couple of photos and thoughts to go along with them.
Here is one of the tallest trees in the world, if not the tallest. Apparently, the tallest tree changes from time to time and I couldn’t find any solid evidence online to point to this particular tree but we will just say it is one of the top ten tallest trees in the world. Most of the tallest trees are found in Northern California among the redwoods. (Giant sequoias have more mass but are not taller.) I enjoyed the tree no matter how tall it was and just standing at its base, I was humbled. My thoughts turned to how long it has been growing and all the things that have changed in the world since it was a seedling.
This beautiful madrone tree in Oregon caught my eye. I wish now that I had taken a few extra steps to really examine and photograph the color of its bark in light of my current thoughts on trunk colors.
How about this beauty of an oak along the Rogue River in Oregon? It was just perfect for gathering acorns under and for a little shade on a warm autumn day. There were plenty of blackberries still waiting to be picked along this trail as well. We took a long walk along the river and enjoyed the solitude.
As we wind up our study of trees in the next few weeks, I am going to try to focus on the changing of the landscape due to the falling of leaves. I did notice this morning that the weekend’s rainstorm had hastened the falling of many leaves. I have a better view across our little valley and can see more clearly the neighborhood because the view is not obstructed by so many leaves. It is a different landscape…changing but still pretty.
Trees seem to frame my life.
My boys have become more aware of trees these past eight weeks. Having a focus draws attention to a certain aspect of something that we see every day. My middle son takes his dog for a walk each morning and each morning he finds a special leaf to bring to me as I cook breakfast. He always has an explanation for why he picked the leaf and then lays it on the table at my spot for me to enjoy. Something so simple but it has touched me that a fifteen year old boy takes the time to focus his eyes at least for a few minutes each day on something most of us don’t take the time to notice and then make it special for his tree lovin’ mama.
I find myself feeling grateful for these little gifts that nature study has brought into our family’s life.
I loved this post. This is our second week studying and looking closely at the very trees which surround our yard! I am excited to share this weeks findings in my blog. We have yet to do our journal page, but we have come across so much that has enlightened us. It’s exciting!
The boys and I are amazed by the picture of the giant tree. It is really hard to comprehend. I hope one day we are able to see them for ourselves!
This was a beautiful post. I love the thoughtfulness of your son. What a neat gift (for him and you). Somehow trees seem to portray simplicity and majesty all at the same time. Thank you for sharing this.
Trees were one of the things that struck us about Hawaii. They were so very tree-like.