I loved this piece with the pictures, sounds and words and how you wove it all together. Thank you for the writing and lovely photos. When it rains, I feel closest to nature so I really related this.
I'm so glad you enjoyed it. It's funny, today has been cold and miserable, rain and near freezing. I haven't gone outside at all! But I agree, when dressed properly, it's a magical time.
Yes today was dreary though in NY it was kind of brisk then snow. My husband always says, you'll never have a bad time on a walk. Magical is a good word for it and that's how it felt reading your post.
I, too, especially enjoyed an engagement of all the senses in relation to such a magnificent tree. This was a beautifully written essay, Julie, personal, factual, questioning, and intertwining with Walden's world so seamlessly. A delight to read from the first word to the last.
I really enjoyed this, thank you. There's so much depth here and beautifully illustrated, too. Le Guin is a favourite of mine, for many reasons. She has much to teach, as do the trees and the forest itself. Recently, I have had so little time to fit everything I need to do into my day, and time outdoors has suffered. I miss my friends in the woods, miss the mysteries and familiar, miss the sounds and sensations of being alive amongst such. After the new year, however, I intend to remedy this.
Thanks again, and thank you for including my own words, I love it when they travel around the internet and find new readers like this, it feels right.
In Azerbaijan, there were billboards with a picture of the president and a quote they attributed to him: “To be a man, plant a tree, father a son, and write a book.” Life presidents are often plagiarists. There is a similar proverb in the Talmud, but the one claimed by Ilham Aliyev above was probably from Jose Marti’, the great Cuban poet. My favorite is a Greek proverb. “A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they shall never sit.”
I planted trees in every place I lived. Eucalyptus trees, tropical pines, and here where I live, all kinds of trees. I started growing Sequoia seedlings last year and have planted a few. The elk do all they can to foil my efforts, but now that winter is here again, I’ll start twenty or thirty more seedlings. I understand that Dawn Redwoods were brought back from the edge of extinction because hobbyists started growing them. It’s a good thing we can do for the world around us, instead of arguing and name calling about the state of things. Don’t talk to me about climate change until you plant a thousand trees with your own hands. Then I’ll know you are serious.
When I start a Sequoia seedling, the seed is the size and shape of a small rolled oat, I think about the biblical reference to faith the size of a mustard seed. Sometimes I wonder if it would be better to have faith the size of a Sequoia seed. The world can be daunting and probably requires great faith.
So far in my own life journey as a man, I have planted trees, fathered a son, but have not written a book. I still have some distance to travel.
“Don’t talk to me about climate change until you plant a thousand trees with your own hands. Then I’ll know you are serious.” Imagine if even 10% of people did this. Or everyone who flew to Dubai last week. 🤔
This is an amazing essay Julie, thank you! I LOVE your conversation with the tree and that it wanted you to take its selfie. The photos are gorgeous. This fall my husband and I went on a little road trip through the mountains and saw a single tree that split into three trunks and then twisted back together further up, it was amazing. Your story made me think of this tree. The joy of sensory engagement with the world!
Gorgeous! You capture so beautifully that sense of communion with trees as if they are wise, ancient sages keenly aware of us and our relationship to them.
I loved this piece with the pictures, sounds and words and how you wove it all together. Thank you for the writing and lovely photos. When it rains, I feel closest to nature so I really related this.
I'm so glad you enjoyed it. It's funny, today has been cold and miserable, rain and near freezing. I haven't gone outside at all! But I agree, when dressed properly, it's a magical time.
Yes today was dreary though in NY it was kind of brisk then snow. My husband always says, you'll never have a bad time on a walk. Magical is a good word for it and that's how it felt reading your post.
I, too, especially enjoyed an engagement of all the senses in relation to such a magnificent tree. This was a beautifully written essay, Julie, personal, factual, questioning, and intertwining with Walden's world so seamlessly. A delight to read from the first word to the last.
Thank you!
Ahh, Safar, I’m so happy that you enjoyed it. Thanks for reading.
Magical and moving. Thank you for your words.
Thank you for reading. I appreciate it!
I really enjoyed this, thank you. There's so much depth here and beautifully illustrated, too. Le Guin is a favourite of mine, for many reasons. She has much to teach, as do the trees and the forest itself. Recently, I have had so little time to fit everything I need to do into my day, and time outdoors has suffered. I miss my friends in the woods, miss the mysteries and familiar, miss the sounds and sensations of being alive amongst such. After the new year, however, I intend to remedy this.
Thanks again, and thank you for including my own words, I love it when they travel around the internet and find new readers like this, it feels right.
I’m so glad this resonated. Thank you for reading. And, yes, it’s too easy to get busy and neglect our tree friends. Time for a walk. . . .
In Azerbaijan, there were billboards with a picture of the president and a quote they attributed to him: “To be a man, plant a tree, father a son, and write a book.” Life presidents are often plagiarists. There is a similar proverb in the Talmud, but the one claimed by Ilham Aliyev above was probably from Jose Marti’, the great Cuban poet. My favorite is a Greek proverb. “A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they shall never sit.”
I planted trees in every place I lived. Eucalyptus trees, tropical pines, and here where I live, all kinds of trees. I started growing Sequoia seedlings last year and have planted a few. The elk do all they can to foil my efforts, but now that winter is here again, I’ll start twenty or thirty more seedlings. I understand that Dawn Redwoods were brought back from the edge of extinction because hobbyists started growing them. It’s a good thing we can do for the world around us, instead of arguing and name calling about the state of things. Don’t talk to me about climate change until you plant a thousand trees with your own hands. Then I’ll know you are serious.
When I start a Sequoia seedling, the seed is the size and shape of a small rolled oat, I think about the biblical reference to faith the size of a mustard seed. Sometimes I wonder if it would be better to have faith the size of a Sequoia seed. The world can be daunting and probably requires great faith.
So far in my own life journey as a man, I have planted trees, fathered a son, but have not written a book. I still have some distance to travel.
“Don’t talk to me about climate change until you plant a thousand trees with your own hands. Then I’ll know you are serious.” Imagine if even 10% of people did this. Or everyone who flew to Dubai last week. 🤔
This is an amazing essay Julie, thank you! I LOVE your conversation with the tree and that it wanted you to take its selfie. The photos are gorgeous. This fall my husband and I went on a little road trip through the mountains and saw a single tree that split into three trunks and then twisted back together further up, it was amazing. Your story made me think of this tree. The joy of sensory engagement with the world!
Donna, I’m so glad it resonated. Thank you for reading!
Gorgeous! You capture so beautifully that sense of communion with trees as if they are wise, ancient sages keenly aware of us and our relationship to them.
Thanks for reading, well said.
I like how you go from feelings and the sensory to the physicality of the climate crisis. It lends an urgency to everything.
Thank you, Priya. I’m drawn to consider it from as many different dimensions as I can think of.
Thanks so much for reading! Glad you enjoyed it.