God is the experience of looking at a tree and saying ‘Ah!’
~ Joseph Campbell
I doubt if this little spruce is the type of tree Joseph Campbell had in mind when he said the above, but… isn’t each and every one a wonder to behold?
A love for trees is common among humans. I’ve yet to meet anyone who’s expressed disdain for them. Whether they’re young and green or old and grey, trees have universal appeal. They give off oxygen, provide homes and resting places for birds and squirrels, act as buffers for sound and wind and look attractive regardless of the season. So why is it they’re almost non-existent in so many neighborhoods?
Locally, the Heritage Hills subdivision in Eastern Passage comes to mind. So many times I’ve driven down Melrose and wondered what a difference it would make, especially to the children growing up there, if each homeowner planted just one tree in their yard. Just one.
As I’ve mentioned here before, if you’re local and you don’t have a tree in your yard yet, I’d be happy to hook you up with a Balsam Fir. Spring is just around the corner. Why not plan to plant a tree and put some ‘ah’ into your life?
For more information on planting trees see http://flandrumhill.wordpress.com/2009/01/05/plant-a-tree/
March 14, 2009 at 11:25 pm
Our yards are full of “ah”s, though we lost our prized pine in a January ice storm. But it’s still land full of trees, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.
March 15, 2009 at 2:43 pm
It is sad when large, beautiful trees are taken down in storms, but the sunshine that’s let in allows for the rapid growth of new trees.
March 15, 2009 at 6:08 pm
That’s a terrific idea for everyone to plant a tree in their yard. Our 15 month grandson has taken exquisite pleasure in delicately fondling the leaves and twigs on what are really large shrubs in our small garden. He has been doing this since the first time he went out there as a new baby.
March 16, 2009 at 12:03 pm
That’s how the love of nature begins… discovering leaves, pinecones, ants, blades of grass… perhaps getting a quick glimpse of a bird or squirrel. They seem like such simple things, but they are the building blocks for acquiring a passion for the natural world.
Linda, what a lucky kid he is to have an artist for a grandmother
March 20, 2009 at 9:54 pm
It used to be that real estate agents would tell you that every tree you plant increases the value of your home. Now not so much.
I’ve had people tell me that they won’t have trees in their yard because they might fall over, they drop leaves that need raking, they attract birds that might mess up the car, or they are hard to mow around with the rider. It’s too bad.
MDW
March 21, 2009 at 1:16 pm
This discussion reminds me of the beautiful story of The Man who Planted Trees
http://home.infomaniak.ch/arboretum/Man_Tree.htm
I first learned about the story through the animated film, which is still available through Amazon.
March 21, 2009 at 6:55 pm
Forestrat, thanks for the heads up of things probably on the horizon here. It IS too bad. Here in Nova Scotia we’d say ‘what a sin’ which seems, unfortunately, all the more fitting.
Eldrid, I added links to 4 videos on Youtube of The Man who Planted Trees animated short back in January in a post about planting trees ~
http://flandrumhill.wordpress.com/2009/01/05/plant-a-tree/ It’s a beautiful story
March 22, 2009 at 7:22 pm
Thanks for the link, Amy, – I had not read that far back in your blog yet.
Will go see the film again, – it is a piece of art in itself
March 24, 2009 at 8:27 am
My 8 month old daughter is captivated by trees… enough said, I think!