Conversations With Trees

On By Suzanne@PictureRetirementIn photography, retirement

Terri, at Second Wind Leisure Perspective, has challenged us to present photos of ‘Trees’ this week. We all know that trees are essential to life, but they are also important to our emotional well-being, and they embody characteristics that we embrace – patience, tolerance, and resilience. When you think of your favorite walk in nature, I’m sure you picture at least one special tree. The one that makes you smile, wonder, and appreciate how fragile and enduring life is. It amazes me that a tree can literally stop us in our tracks, to pause, breathe, and celebrate the miracle of being alive.

Trees Through the Seasons

In spring, flowering ornamentals lift our spirits with bursts of color and the promise of new beginnings. These trees are abundant in my neighborhood and the surrounding community. Their blooms are fleeting, but when it’s showtime, they have no rival.

In South Florida, palm trees grow tall toward the sun. They create cool sanctuaries and offer relief from oppressive heat, and are emblems of the state’s landscape and identity. They welcome visitors and residents alike, evoking fantasies of leisurely days and tropical vacations. Places where dreams come true.

While Autumn doesn’t look much different from summer in South Florida, other parts of the country enjoy grand statement trees with fiery foliage. Malcolm and I love our ‘leaf peeping’ expeditions each fall. It reminds us that change is inevitable, and seasons are eternal.

Winter trees, especially those covered in snow, call to mind childhood wonder and the promise of renewal. This tree was in a park adjacent to the property we rented in Quebec, Canada, in 2023. From the window, we watched it collect snow as we enjoyed the warmth of our living room. When conditions were just right, we donned our winter garb and headed out to play.

These solitary trees evoke emotions of silent reflection. I took the first photo in the Caribbean at a Sugar Mill that existed because of slave labour. It spoke volumes about the history of this place. The second is from my favorite ‘Boneyard Beach’ on Jekyll Island, Georgia, and the third is from sunrise on the same beach. We have visited Jekyll Island annually for the past several years. The ebb and flow of the tide shapes and changes this beach and its fragile inhabitants – clinging to their final days.

I love the intentional peacefulness of trees in well-planned spaces. I took these photos in France, on separate occasions. Both locations evoke a sense of calm, peace, and restfulness. Gazing on them now takes me back to that time, and sweet memories flood my mind.

These grand oaks canopy bike trails in the historic district of Jekyll Island. Many are over two hundred years old. The scenic pathway runs along the river, and one can’t help but imagine the lives of those who came before us; their vision, fortitude, and perseverance, their desire to create something beautiful and long-lasting. Their stories murmur through the branches.

Trees have interesting things to say when we listen and trust the quiet.

bend, yield, be patient, be encouraged, have hope

Visit Sunday Stills Photo Challenge – hosted by Terri

25 thoughts on “Conversations With Trees”

  1. Those last ones are majestic, and beautiful, and a little bit spooky – nothing like any we have here in Australia. I loved them – they reminded me of the novels set in the deep South….

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  3. Your ode to trees is wonderful and emotional, Suzanne! I love how you showcase different types and that you clearly love taking pics of trees. We love our changing seasons that showcase trees in all seasons, here. But I do miss palm trees! Yours are gorgeous. I love how palms tone down the severity of urban buildings. Trees are ancient beings and I also wonder what they’ve heard over the centuries from us puny humans 😉

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  4. You’ve captured the power of trees to inspire and move us really well 🙂 I liked your seasonal images, especially presented together like this, and the drama of your solitary trees.

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  6. This is a beautiful post! Trees are truly a blessing in our lives. Each section in this post is a reflection and a description of those blessings. Wonderful pictures, too. We are currently at a campground near Dallas – where it is very hot. However, we are at a site, under a giant tree, with shade all day long. This tree allows us to sit outside, feel a breeze and look at the lake.

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  7. I love trees. I missed Teri’s prompt, so I’m glad I did not miss your post. I’ve always been amazed by moss covered oaks. Your last photo reminds me of Greenwood Plantation in St. Francisville, LA. In fact, a lot of that town has wonderful oaks.

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  11. Such beautiful images! 😍 I love how you have included so many types of trees in different locations. Palm trees are my favourites, especially since we don’t have any here in Canada. 🌴

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    1. Hi Debbie, trees are one of the many scenes I appreciate in nature, and I am lucky to spot the special ones when we travel. We recently visited Canada, and the tree I admired most and saw often was the Weeping Willow. They seemed to be featured in every neighborhood, park, and winery we passed. I should have included it in this post, but it was already photo-intensive. I thought folks might get bored. Thanks for stopping by, and enjoy your week.

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  12. Suzanne,

    I love how you shared a great variety of trees through a variety of seasons. This post was very well-written–I enjoyed it muchly. I thought about sharing a picture of the boneyard in Jekyll Island, but decided to use a picture from a similar stretch of beach in Hunting Island, SC. This boneyard tree was used for a balance beam. Enjoy your day! Joe

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