Thursday Tree Love: Close Encounter with Tall Pine

“…there can be occasions when we suddenly and involuntarily find ourselves loving the natural world with a startling intensity, in a burst of emotion which we may not fully understand, and the only word that seems to me to be appropriate for this feeling is joy”
                                                                                       ― Michael McCarthy

The vast network of roots

covered in hummus

provided cushioned support

Strong yet giving

So that each step along the trail

reverberated a soft drum beat

To my heart

As the river played along.

Old granite offered security

when the trail narrowed

or became steep while

Trunks and branches gave balance.

A tree called to me

Not with words or sounds

But reaching out in the cool breeze.

I laid hands on the rough bark

Sharing energy, healing,

Knowing without words

The power, the stability

Of this old, but not so old

Sentinel of the river forest.

I leaned into the power,

Inhaling its gifted oxygen.

Then let my eyes

Travel up, up, up

to the crown in the sky

Blessed with golden light.

My spirit filled with new life

My heart wanted to to stay forever

In wild communion.

Thursday Tree Love is hosted by Parul Thakur on the second and fourth Thursday of each month. For more tree love, visit:

#ThursdayTreeLove – 95

Thursday Tree Love: Landmark

On the way to the mountains in December 2011.

It’s been very hot here in the southeastern US, and I thought it might be nice to see some snow. This evergreen tree is a landmark for me on the way to the mountains where the air is about 20 degrees cooler. Seeing my landmark tree means we’re almost there. It stands out because it stands by itself with no close neighbors. It has stood there for many years, so maybe its roots connect with others through the underground network.

I think it’s interesting that the large branch reaching up on the left is almost like another tree. In 2011, when I took this photo from the car, I didn’t realize there were deer on the horizon until later when I zoomed in and cropped the photo.

Below is the same tree on the left taken more recently from further back. Perhaps it is in late winter. I hope to take another photo soon in late summer or autumn.

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Thursday Tree Love is hosted by Parul Thakur on the second and fourth Thursday of each month. For more tree love, visit: https://www.happinessandfood.com/thursdaytreelove-93/