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| Box Elder drawing by Brooke Priddy Conrad |
"And now let us welcome the new year; full of things that have never been." Rainer Maria Rilke
The 93 trees of "A Year With the Trees" have been a big part of this journey since 2010. Each tree was sought out and found, offering a chance to sit quietly in its presence. From the network of veins in a leaf to the patterns of the bark and the land where each tree lives, every detail has a story to tell.
Up in the branches, birds and wildlife find a place to live and move. These trees change with the seasons: the bare branches of winter eventually give way to the new green growth of spring. Summer brings a fullness of life that slowly turns into the changing colors of fall. In the sunlight, the leaves turn to shades of gold, brown, red, and yellow. Even when the leaves fall to the ground and the branches are bare again, there is a quiet waiting for the new growth to return in the spring.
Visiting and journaling these 93 trees through every season reveals that there is always more to learn about them. It is a rewarding experience to walk through the woods, down a street, or in a park and recognize the trees as familiar friends. Developing this connection provides a sense of peace.
Beyond their beauty, trees are essential for life. We can breathe clean air and drink clean water because we live on the same planet with them. Their roots hold the soil in place, and their branches provide homes for birds, small mammals, moths, and butterflies. We share an interconnected world, and trees are its quiet protectors.
"A Year With the Trees" was started as a way to share how to get to know the trees. Whether you are following along with all 93 or just getting to know a single tree in your neighborhood, these amazing Southern Appalachian trees have much to share with anyone who takes the time to look.
When one has an appreciation and gratitude for trees, one will naturally be led to protect and care for them.
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| Drawing by Rebecca Priddy |
There is a journal booklet I created with the help of my husband, Robert and my daughter, Brooke Conrad. I wanted to make this journal to help others get to know these trees. I am editing it now to be able to hopefully put it online and/or in printed form. I will update this post when I get these journal booklets ready. In the meantime, have fun out there in nature.
