Concerning trees and leaves… there’s a real power here. It is amazing that trees can turn gravel and bitter salts into these soft-lipped lobes, as if I were to bite down on a granite slab and start to swell, bud and flower. Every year a given tree creates absolutely from scratch ninety-nine percent of its living parts. Water lifting up tree trunks can climb one hundred and fifty feet an hour; in full summer a tree can, and does, heave a ton of water every day. A big elm in a single season might make as many as six million leaves, wholly intricate, without budging an inch; I couldn’t make one.
Annie Dillard
Annie Dillard’s quote caused me to rethink my perspective on the world of these trees around me. It’s that thing where I look at them, see their beauty, see them as a passive object, while failing to see the innate and active power within them. And, I couldn’t make a leaf either. However, I love to see them swirling in the wind, whether the leaf is clinging to a branch or free-falling to the ground, or lying peacefully on the ground. Always intrigued by their shapes, patterns, colors and how nature seemingly and randomly scatters them to and fro, making beautiful art, just for me. And, I love to photograph them. ❤️
8 Comments
Earl
Monte, your wonderful fall photos are like a window view of our fall conditions a few weeks into where we’ll soon be. Somehow it seems to mentally and emotionally elongate the season for me, which is excellent since fall is my favorite. As always, I appreciate the images and the thoughts you share. Never stop! 😉
Monte Stevens
Glad you get to “elongate” with my images. It also is a favorite season for me. Love to experience the changes. Thank you for your kind words and for being active on this blog with your comments. I so enjoy that virtual connection.
About 7:00 am this morning we had our first dusting of snow. Big beautiful snowflakes full of moisture began falling. No measurable accumulation but rooftops turned white. We now have a scattering of sprinkles.
Tom Dills
I love being reminded that a single tree in and of itself is living organism, with hundreds if not thousands of individual processes going on below the bark. Perhaps it’s also a reminder that sometimes we fail to see the trees for the forest?
Something else to think about on this fall day.
Monte Stevens
Hopefully I’m getting better at seeing the trees and flowers and critters and… Without seeing them as they are many of us do not have respect for them. That is also true of humans. I’m learning.
Faye
Love this image, gorgeous collage of golden leaves.
Monte Stevens
Thank you and I love to photograph them. Took a few more on my walk late this afternoon. Have great day tomorrow!!
Mark
You and me both – could probably spend hours just looking at the piles beneath my trees. So nice to read words from someone who appreciates them just as much. And that Annie Dillard – she gets it. Great excerpt.
Monte Stevens
Great minds create alike (or something like that)! I’m about to post more on the pile of leaves later today. I honestly need to read more of Annie!