Thanking Trees

My dog Bobik was panting more than usual during our regular walk in the neighborhood. Today’s noon temperature reached 95 degrees. During days like these, we tend to walk quickly through the scorching streets. Then, once we hit areas shaded by trees, we stroll­­­ and smell things (well, mostly he does). Since temperatures under the shade of a tree can sometimes be 10 degrees cooler, we feel like we’re on a mini-vacation.

Where I grew up, there were lots of trees. But here in Texas we have long stretches of dry prairies with no shade. Which is why I now see trees as things to be treasured. I’ve come to respect them for their human qualities. They have a presence in our neighborhood. A beautiful strength and endurance against all the shenanigans we humans do around them.

These two happy trees in our neighborhood live side by side, share resources and cast quite a lot of shade for those of us who walk by. I believe that they're brothers.

An intersection of trees along our walks in the neighborhood.

We often linger under this old Live Oak tree. The spread above is beautiful and the air here always feels cooler.

Several weeks ago, Bobik and I passed by a home that had been bulldozed in order to put up a new one instead. The trees around the property were chopped down too, which made me very upset. I’m sure they must have been crying at the injustice. Because trees that grow near each other tend to be interconnected by a network of root growth underground, I’m convinced the whole block of trees was experiencing sadness. I believe this because of the things recently written about trees in nature and science journals. As Peter Wohlleben says in The Hidden Life of Trees, “When trees grow together, nutrients and water can be optimally divided among them all so that each tree can grow into the best tree it can be…” Trees are social organisms that live in communities and share everything, so when one tree suffers, those around it do too.

This was a tear-down house, or so it was said. Among the trees were several large, healthy lavender Crepe Myrtles whose poor stumps are probably groaning.

In the same block as the tear down house is this newly remodeled house with a sad stump where a tree once was. Another equally large old tree was to the left of this one. Both were removed, though it's not clear why.

Much has been written about how we can save the Earth by planting more trees. That’s because of the amazing things they do for us. Not only do they create homes for thousands of species of plants and animals, they remove carbon dioxide from the air and release oxygen into our atmosphere. That’s why we always feel better when we are in green spaces with trees. We become less anxious and less depressed because of the health benefits they provide.

People assume that global warming is caused by burning oil and gas. But in fact between 25 and 30 percent of the greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere each year (an estimated 1.6 billion tons) is caused by deforestation. That’s right – cutting trees hurts us even more than it hurts them.

Next time you take a walk on a hot day, stop and admire the trees. Bobik likes to smell them, which you can do too. Or just enjoy the shade and thank them for being in your neighborhood.

---

Below are more trees that Bobik and I enjoy in our yard and study on our walks.

In our back yard, we have many elderly trees and some that are frankly not very attractive. But we try to preserve the natural habitat they create. The thickets offer spaces for many birds, including cardinals and blue birds. Insects and reptiles abound there too, which helps create a rich world of food and berries for the wildlife.

This is a Sunday morning in the garden. You can hear the many birds that make their homes in our trees. The first tree in the video that you see is what I call "The Apartment." It's a pecan tree that has housed many generations of squirrels who gather the endless pecans this big old tree continues to produce.

This is the amazing trunk of a near by Lace Bark Elm. It's a spectacular looking young tree. The Lace Bark Elm tends to be disease-free and has a good life span.

This is a wide shot of the Lace Bark Elm. As they grow bigger, these trees can have a huge canopy.

This is our home. You can see the giant pecan I call "The Apartment" in the center back of the house. The various trees, most of which we planted, frame the house and create an open but nestled look.

"The Apartment." We've cut into the roof line twice already to accommodate the growth of this beautiful old tree. Some squirrel 60 or more years ago planted this tree and no one cut it down, so here we are today. Pecans can live 300 years, so this tree will outlive us if we can help it.

Looking up into "The Apartment."

These are two trees we planted. The one on the right is a Chinese Pistache tree that my husband gave me for my birthday 8 years ago. It's our pride and joy in the garden. The one to the left is also one we planted and love. It's a South Carolina Cypress. The giant boulder you see between them is what I call my landscape jewelry. I will share more about the beautiful boulders in my life soon.

This is a closeup on the berries of the Chinese Pistache. These lovely things turn red-orange in the fall, then become purple in winter. That's when they become a good source of food for the birds. The tree itself turns a golden orange. Though not as long-living as a pecan, it's been known to live hundreds of years.

A little closer up on the Chinese Pistache. You can see the abundance of berries.

The tree on the left is a River Birch. What's distinctive about this tree is the dramatically peeling bark. I love it because it has the same colors as the stone work of our home. In the fall, the elegant leaves turn yellow.

A close up of the River Birch. We saved it from a dry part of our property. These trees need a lot of water, unfortunately.

The River Birch trunk and leaves.

Another wider shot of the River Birch. The texture and colors of this tree create an attractive, storybook look year round.

This is my dog Bobik. He likes shade in the summer, but prefers sunshine the rest of the year.