Old Trees

We recently had a storm that produced straight-line winds that uprooted 9 trees in my yard. Tall Pines and Oaks that provided shelter and beauty for many species, for many years, had been destroyed. As the storm passed, I found myself walking through the wake of the storms wrath to take inventory of the damage. Trees, older than I, which had survived Mother Nature’s fury for many decades, now laid helpless on the very ground they came.

Chain saw in tote, I proceeded to begin the clean up process. While cutting the branches, I could not help but feel sad that my old friends would no longer be around. Daily icons would no longer be part of my daily inspiration and my daily walk.

Trees are amazing for many reasons, but for me, they are amazing because of the visual history they contain. Tree-rings (Dendrochronology) not only date the tree but also take us on a historic climatic journey of temperature and moisture availability. In addition, the tree can tell us what people, some older than my grand parents, did to the tree. Scars formed from the tree being used as clotheslines, fence post, swing, and even target practice (arrows & bullets) is present in the rings, as well as signs from floods, fire and more.

I have many pictures of family members where trees are present. Sometimes I look at an old majestic tree and see a very young tree, with ghosts of people from simpler times, enjoying their lives, side by side with the tree.

While most of my fallen buddies will be heading to the sawmill, I take my axe, my strength, my sweat, and split the remaining segments for firewood. Each fire will rekindle old memories, while new ones are made.