One of my recent facebook ‘7 B&W photos in 7 days’ challenge entries: Hoar frost on Oak
National Tree Week (a UK festival) was introduced in 1975 and is a celebration of all things ‘Tree’. It coincides with the beginning of the winter planting season and here is the promotion poster for this year.
Oh dear … a lot of stereotyping going on here!
As a long-term tree-obsessive I thoroughly approve of their aim: ‘calling on everyone, everywhere to celebrate the value of trees, plant more and appreciate them all‘!
I have an old scrap-book, which contains magazine cuttings of trees, calendar pictures, postcards and photos, collected over very many years, to remind myself of their beauty, resilience and usefulness. Of course, I can’t find it now that I look for it, but I do have a ‘Tree’ directory on the computer that I use nowadays. Here is the first picture in that folder:
The Angel Oak near Charleston, South Carolina (saved without credit I am afraid)
I love the clever photography to make it feel totally encompassing and I love the worlds-within-world conjured by the tree and its thriving ecosystem.
I also noticed that my Favourites page on Flickr contains a disportionate number of tree pictures. Here is a wonderful example on it by Willie Huang:
I like the feeling of continuity and spirituality it evokes.
My garden probably can’t take many more trees (and what we have are mostly fruit admittedly), but I am growing a Hankerchief tree (Davidia involucrata), started from seed and now in its third year, which I will be planted out in the meadow area shortly. Will you be planting any new trees this season?
I thought that I would finish with poem by american poet and novelist Henry Bunner (published in 1912) which captures the essence of exactly why we need to plant more trees.
The Heart of the Tree
What does he plant who plants a tree?
He plants a friend of sun and sky;
He plants the flag of breezes free;
The shaft of beauty towering high;
He plants a home to heaven anigh;
For song and mother-croon of bird
In hushed and happy twilight heard—
The treble of heaven’s harmony—
These things he plants who plants a tree.
What does he plant who plants a tree?
He plants cool shade and tender rain,
And seed and bud of days to be,
And years that fade and flush again;
He plants the glory of the plain;
He plants the forest’s heritage;
The harvest of a coming age;
The joy that unborn eyes shall see—
These things he plants who plants a tree.
What does he plant who plants a tree?
He plants in sap and leaf and wood,
In love of home and loyalty
And far-cast thought of civic good—
His blessings on the neighbourhood,
Who in the hollow of His hand
Holds all the growth of all our land—
A nation’s growth from sea to sea
Stirs in his heart who plants a tree.
~ Henry Cuyler Bunner
Frogend dweller's Blog 
A lovely post; everyday, we should celebrate trees. Love your litte snowflakes.
I also meant to add that your black and white photo is stunning!
It is a favourite photo. Of course, its beauty has little to do with me, I was particularly lucky with the frost and cloud pattern in the sky and being in the right place!
Thanks …. but what little flakes?
Go trees! Lovely, thank you!
It was a pleasure …. but so difficult to chose the examples!
Wonderful post celebrating our very important trees. Trees are life!
I love those pictures that show trees as the lungs of the planet.
Beautiful photos of trees, Allison. How do I love a tree? let me count the ways… 😉
Because of our winter, Arbor Day in the US is in April. Your mild winters must be good for planting and establishing dormant trees. Trees pronounce faith in future generations. 🙂
Yes, bare-rooted season has begun. We plant all winter, unless the ground is frozen or water-logged.
I’ve visited the Angel Oak on several occasions over the years. It’s awe inspiring, but people are always crowed around (hundreds on weekends), so you never see it as depicted in the photo.
Sounds like our ‘Major Oak’ in Sherwood forest. That is well-propped and fenced off too!
lovely post and poem Alison, I do not recall hearing of National tree week before, and I love trees, my father did too,
have you heard, apparently the Wisley trees have been saved the road is going to take a route that will not require the felling of any trees in Wisley, good news,
Frances
Thank you. Yes, I did see about the A3 route not affecting Wisley, so that is fantastic isn’t it?
I am planning more tree planting where I work
I shall send my boss the poem she will appreciate it as she knows this planting is for the next generation
Sounds good. What kind of trees? At Wimpole (where I work) they are gradually replanting the parklands to the Capability Brown plan. A 1000 trees in 10 years is the idea, but it will be great for the future. Interestingly, they carry out an archeological survey at each tree planting hole.
Wow that must a great project to be involved in. We have planted around a dozen each year for the last five. A real mix including a group of copper beach, a group of mixed variety malus. A copse of native trees including evergreen oaks and field maples. Such an enjoyable project as I certainly would not be able to do it at home
We need more tree absolutely everywhere. Great post!🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳
Thanks. I agree …. and hedges too!