Wordless Wednesday
Tag: tree
Wordless Wednesday
Good Morning to You!
In the early to mid 90’s, I wrote a fun devotional song that my son told me sounded like a sea chantey. Years later, one line from that song would often come into my mind when I went on morning walks. At that point, though, the lyrics were different. They became “Good morning to you, good morning to you, good morning, good morning, good morning, good morning, good morning, good morning, good morning to you.” I would sing the ditty to the plants and trees I encountered on my walk.
Thursday night, we had a big rain and wind storm in Seattle. On Friday morning I went outside to see how the trees fared. I found myself singing that song to each tree along my way.
First I visited the trees in my back yard:
Maple tree, good morning to you!
Holly tree, good morning to you!
Magnolia tree, good morning to you!
Juniper trees, good morning to you!
Blue Spruce, good morning to you!
Next, I walked down to the Greenbelt lot where we’ve been rescuing the trees from blackberry vines and ivy. I was eager to check out what had happened there during the storm. I could tell everything was fine, but it was still windy so I didn’t go as close to those trees as I would have normally. I didn’t want to take any chance that a dead branch would drop on my head.
Cherry trees, good morning to you!
Cedar trees, good morning to you!
Buddleia, good morning to you!
I look forward to seeing who you become now that you are freed from the blackberries. I also look forward to seeing if butterflies flock to your blooms.
Hawthorne tree, good morning to you!
I look forward to seeing what happens now that you have a chance to thrive.
And last but not least, beautiful Alder, good morning to you!
I thoroughly enjoyed my morning visit to each of these trees. Maybe this will become a daily ritual for me!
I wish each of you who read this post a very good morning, no matter what time of day it is in your part of the world.
Wordless Wednesday
The Daily Prompt: Trees
I laughed when I saw that the Daily Prompt for today was Trees because trees are a major focus of my life right now. I am managing editor for a monthly Pacific Northwest GreenFriends publication. This month we had a special feature section on trees. Last month, I had an interesting experience with a tree that I named the Guardian. (I subsequently wrote two posts about that tree.) And, with the help of a friend, I have started clearing the blackberry vines, ivy and other invasive plants from the Greenbelt lot that is located behind my Seattle home.
Among the trees I have “freed” are two Hawthorn trees. When I showed the big tree to a neighbor, he pointed out that the smaller one to the east of it was actually part of the same tree. In the photo below you can see both of these trees. Also notice the height of the blackberry vines behind the big tree. This whole lot was covered with those densely packed vines a month ago.
I took the photo above last week; below are some I snapped today.
I am thoroughly enjoying my new passion. I think I could spend the rest of my life working in this lot. I’ve seen so many amazing things already… so there will be many more blog posts to come.
Wordless Wednesday
Weekly Photo Challenge: Edge
I wandered around Lincoln Park this morning looking for shots I could take for this week’s Weekly Photo Challenge: Edge. I took so many interesting photos and wasn’t certain which I would use for the Edge challenge.
Then, just before I left the park, a tree stump caught my eye. I knew I had found my subject! That stump contained so many different types of edges.
And here is a view of the stump as a whole.
More About The Guardian
Yesterday, I wrote a post about My “Frame” Adventure. During that adventure, I discovered a tree that I named Guardian. When I first walked close to the tree, I noticed that part of its bark was very feathery.
I took a small piece of the feathery substance and looked at it with a microscope when I returned home.
I also used the microscope to examine one of the tree’s dried leaves I had picked up from the ground.
When I went back to the park today for my Tai Chi class, I visited the Guardian first. I noticed that the base of the tree has a circumference of about 20 feet. I touched the tree and had a sense of “home.” Such power and majesty it radiates.
I love having the Tai Chi class in the park. I hope the weather permits us to keep meeting there throughout September. Two days ago, some of the students made a Yin Yang symbol out of leaves before the class. Today they made this one! No wonder I feel at home with this particular group of people. A sense of home twice in one day, and both of them prior to 8:30 a.m. I knew this was going to be a good day.
A Fascinating Pacific Madrone Tree
I was fascinated by the various surfaces on this Pacific Madrone (Arbutus menziesii) tree that is located in Lincoln Park in Seattle.
(Click any gallery for closer view of the photos.)
Following My Intuition
When I was at Amma’s Amritapuri ashram in India last fall, I took a Tai Chi class for the first time. I fell totally in love with it. My top priority on returning to Seattle was to find a Tai Chi teacher. Within a short period of time, I found Viola Brumbaugh. She was exactly the type of teacher I was looking for. I immediately enrolled in her classes, and started attending them two times a week.
My joy was short-lived though. I had returned to Seattle in mid-January and in mid-February I hurt my back doing litter pick-up without using a litter pick-up tool. I have congenital spondylolithesis and scoliosis and have had problems with my back throughout my life.
In the past when my back pain has flared, it has only lasted two or three weeks at the most. This time, month after month went by and I was still unable to stand in one place or sit for very long. Driving was and is particularly uncomfortable. There has also been more nerve involvement than I have had during previous flare ups.
About a week ago, I sensed that I had reached a point where I could start doing Tai Chi again. It seemed like the classes might even promote my healing. So on Tuesday, even though I was still have problem standing in place, sitting and driving, I returned to class!
My intuition seems to be right. I’ve been to two classes now and have had no negative side effects. If anything, I feel better! And I am so happy to be learning Tai Chi once again.
One of the fantastic things about attending the class at this time of year, is that it is held in Lincoln Park, a large beautiful park in West Seattle. In addition to the joy of participating in this blessed practice under the huge trees, being there has given me the opportunity to take more tree photos. I took close ups of the tree below on Tuesday.
After taking the pictures, I ran my hand along the trunk to see if there were any loose pieces of bark. I took home a small piece of bark and something I am calling “orange plant debris” that was hanging on the tree. If you know what it is, please tell me!
Today I looked at those items under the microscope and took more photos!
Bark
Orange plant debris
Living, Learning and Letting Go 