A Favorite Tree

This is one of my favorite trees to visit.  It's found in Washington Connecticut at the Steep Rock hiking trail.  Its near the river, and I find it quite fascinating that it has lived as long as it has.  I neglected to identify it when I was visiting last time, but after looking at the leaves and what pictures I have of the bark, I believe it's a sycamore.  I'm going to have to go back soon and verify it's species.

One very special tree

Here's why I find this tree fascinating...

The base of the tree - looking at the inside

This is the base of the tree.  It is completely hollow approximately 10 feet up the tree.  I know why it's alive, the nutrients travel up the cambium and down the phloem.  In this picture both are intact on about half of the structure.  The center of the tree (the hardwood) is not necessary to survive, the hardwood is more for stabilizing the tree.  The top of this tree is small as you can see in the top picture, so comparatively this tree doesn't have to hold up a lot of structure, although if it were to fall, it would probably be heavy.

Looking up the tree

As you can see the bark is only around about half of the leader going up the tree.

Looking up the open side of the leader.

Standing inside the tree looking out.

Looking straight up the bark side.

For me, this tree is a piece of art.  I know why it's alive, but I'm not sure why it isn't dead.  Like all life I guess, it may be the will to live, and so that's why it does.  Not only is it beautiful in it's own way, but the day I discovered it, it made me feel like I need to appreciate my life one day at a time.

Until next time:  The constant in our lives is that our lives change.  In the tree world, life is slow, calm, and never consistant.  There are no laws other than gravity, and nothing stays the same.  May your life be as a tree and when things start to look a little different, may others see the art in you.

My Outlook on 2011 - At Least for Today

It's been an amazing year.  As I think back to January 2011, I think about the weather - that horrible winter snow that seemed to bury any passion that I had with the white stuff.  Spring, that brought on a new job at a nursery and a new found discovery of what retail, nice weather, and flowers can do to a person.  I have discovered that I am in the perfect business - gardening.  If you ever want to see the good side of someone, just start talking about how they feel about flowers, trees, or nature in general.  They get all soft and fuzzy, well most of the time anyway.  The positive energy that radiates is something you want to absorb into your skin and bask in as long as possible, and that is my field of work for the moment.  I'm not sure it gets better than this.

"Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future,
concentrate the mind on the present moment." ~ Buddha

There have been some very sad times for me this year, but with those sad times I stepped outside of my box again and feel that I have grown.  My mom's passing was not a surprise.  How I handled my relationship with her and the final moments were a surprise for me.  Growing up into an adult really does make a difference.  And when you learn that the world really isn't all about you, doors open that you could never have imagined.

Life is not perfect, nor is it pleasant all the time.  When I take notice of what the weather brings or what happens daily in the life of nature, I realize that my life is about the same.  For now, I will continue to cherish the fine moments and learn from the less perfect moments.  I will try to survive each day and bring a little sunshine to the world around me.

Until next time:  may your days be bright and light.  When you find yourself feeling like the world just isn't right, may there be a pleasant surprise to wake up the 'fine' in you.