Holiday trees

We got a holiday card from the group of arborists that take care of our trees. This is the wonderful quote from Wisconsin's legendary environmentalist, Aldo Leopold, that was inside their card.

“Acts of creation are ordinarily reserved for gods

and poets, but humbler folk may circumvent

this restriction if they know how.

To plant a pine, for example, one need be neither

god nor poet; one need only own a good shovel.”

— Pines Above the Snow, A Sand County Almanac

. . . 

Mark bought me the above book. which is also a calendar. Each page follows the year beginning on January 1st with a tree image and text. It will go on the kitchen counter where we will turn over the pages as the year unfurls. 

It is clear to see from these examples of the pages, that this is going to be a wonderful way to start to our days. If you double click on the photos you can read the text.

Comments

[Kris P]

What a lovely gift - and a great way to start a day. Wouldn't it be nice if schools included it in their curriculums to develop an early respect for trees? It might open the eyes of people in my community, which has an ordinance that values views over trees. Interestingly, I had one neighbor who actually took out insurance on the huge stone pine in her garden, which is the first time I'd heard of that. Regrettably, she moved several years ago.

[danger garden]

This looks like a great way to learn more about trees, something I definitely should do. I wish we had the space to leave a book like this laying open.

[Linda Brazill]

DANGER — ​It makes it seem like we have more counter space than we do. It's right in front of the fire extinguisher that also sits on the end of the counter. Not that I am sure I could remember how to use it in an emergency.

[Linda Brazill]

KRIS — Having an insurance policy on an important tree is a great idea. Years ago a neighbor planted a Dawn Redwood in the back corner of his yard where four properties meet. Over the years that means the huge sweeping branches have moved into other people's properties which has been a problem.

[Elizabeth]

When I was in school (in SoCal), we celebrated Arbor Day, and planting trees was a part of it. Nowadays, people will cut down trees in the blink of an eye to catch a glimpse of a sliver of the ocean they can see only by standing on a chair and looking through a little tiny window. I don't get it. Trees ARE the view. Tree-lined streets are a joy. And don't even get me started on people who complain that trees are "messy." Good grief!