What Says the Tree?
What Says the Tree?
Think back for a moment to the home you grew up in-I imagine you can mentally draw a map of the floor plan, your bedroom, the view from your window. And just as unforgettable perhaps is the memory of your yard-did you have a favorite tree, a garden, flowers that returned every year.
I believe it was in 1984 when I purchased a half-acre in the village. I remember stepping through the trees and underbrush with the strangest feeling-how could I own this land? Perhaps we never really do-perhaps we’re all just guests and gatekeepers with visitor passes.
My dream was to build a little cabin in the woods surrounded by trees-and the goal was to keep as many of the trees as possible-which has led to a bit of a family feud when it comes to raking leaves and moss-covered shingles. Some folks picture home surrounded by a green, lush, manicured lawn-my dream had always been a cabin hidden amongst the trees.
Trees become our familiar neighbors- they invite us to change with the seasons – we climb them, sit under their branches, breathe their air. They provide the veil between heaven and earth reminding us to stay rooted while reaching for the stars. Each one so unique and beautiful. As we age alongside of them - familiar trees help to anchor us to our community, they store our memories and reassure us of the stable beauty and good in our world.
This morning’s walk led me to the end of our road where many or most of the trees have been bulldozed and put into large container trucks. No one asked the trees, or the deer, the raccoons, the opossums, the squirrels, the birds, or the rabbits. No one wondered how long those trees had stood-how many storms they had weathered – I think we have all seen it-a lot cleared and denuded in a day’s time-no semblance of what had been. The green soul of the property stripped down to the soil. Once the towering native, indigenous trees are lost, there are directives or promises to revegetate, which usually includes green giants and privet hedge.
I wonder do trees have rights? They are alive, they breathe, they drink water. Well at least one town in Canada thinks so! They officially recognize trees as living beings with rights.
“A tree is like a human being, it breathes, it lives, it takes in water. It protects us from all sorts of things.” The town, which has been flooded three times in recent years, says trees are not only living organisms but also essential infrastructure. They cool cities, absorb carbon dioxide, filter air, support wildlife, reduce heat islands, and help manage water during heavy rainfall. Recognizing the rights of trees could change how towns think about development, climate resilience, and urban planning. Trees are not just property.”
We have learned in recent years the complicated communication systems that trees possess-how they talk to each other and protect each other and help each other survive.
“Trees communicate and support one another through two main pathways: an underground fungal network (mycorrhizae) and airborne chemical signals. These complex, interactive systems allow forests to share nutrients, warn neighbors of danger, and even nurture younger trees.”
What is this quest to dominate the land and not realize that we are all just part of it? How will those white pines have a chance to defend themselves if we don’t use our voices to come to their aid? When does respect for our environment outweigh the desire for largest homes? Yes, I love my home and am very grateful to have one-and I also love the trees and feel just as at home among them as I do in my living room. If for some reason I become anxious or restless -a walk among the trees helps to settle my soul- breathing deeply, walking mindfully, helps bring me back to my core.
As they call it in Japan-
“Forest bathing, or shinrin-yoku, is a Japanese practice of immersing yourself in nature. It isn't a physical bath, but a slow, mindful walk where you intentionally engage all five senses to absorb the forest atmosphere. The goal is to unplug, slow down, and connect with the natural world. Rooted in nature therapy, the practice has profound science-backed health benefits. When you spend time around trees, you inhale phytoncides - natural antimicrobial compounds and essential oils released by the plants. Studies show these compounds, combined with the relaxing environment, can significantly impact your physiology.”
Even fallen and decomposing trees provide a home for life. Our homes made from wood, our furniture, often our fuel, yes, it is all reminiscent of the “Giving Tree’ by Shel Silverstein- trees giving everything they’ve got. I believe they deserve a voice-our voice-in protecting them and their habitat. It sickens me to see this endless loss of habitat- this wiping clean of woodlands – the lungs of the earth. What we might need is a call to arms-or branches- I might say….Plant trees, love trees, protect trees- they are the vital life force that we leave to future generations.
Trees
BY Joyce Kilmer
I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast;
A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in Summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.