I had 5 special trees on our farm growing up: a Maple tree with a diameter of at least 8 ft, a beautiful young Blue Spruce, whose color I admired daily, a perfectly shaped Dogwood, when in bloom had this incredible layer of blossoms, and finally, my 2 favorites, a special Gravenstein apple tree that I climbed daily during the fruiting season to grab from little green apples until the last apple disappeared from the tree picking several a day and then going to my final tree, a 50-60 ft tall Douglas Fir that I immediately climbed after picking the apples and sat in the top rocking in the wind for hours each summer day eating my apples!
Each tree meant something different to me but these 5 mattered beyond every other tree on the property!
Having such a close relationship with trees is really a profound connection to place. I don’t know what it means for me to have both an intense wanderlust, but also a deep rooted connection to home. I wouldn’t want to trade either one!
“Looking at” and “looking in” — what a wonderful practice. I’m going to try it today. That ephemeral visit of blossoms is indeed sweet-sad. We have a tulip magnolia in our front yard that’s also finished after a week of magnificence.
The Japanese revere cherry blossoms precisely because of how brief their flowers are. I can agree impermanence adds to the value of things, but when the seasonal timing doesn’t align with my own timing it leaves me… frustrated. I need more looking in! Thanks Julie!
Love these flowers...even though they werent captured by your "good" camera! I share that weird spring restlessness too...glad it isn't just me. It's like part of my body remembers this is when I tend to go on long hikes! Also also...WHERE ARE YOU GOING?? 😃😃
Haha, thanks! It’s the wanderlust!! Glad to hear that it’s not just me. I’ve had a bit of trouble getting time off of work lately, so this next trip will be a shorter 35 mile loop. It’s called the Virginia Triple Crown cause it goes to McAfee Knob and a couple other Virginia highlights. Hoping for good things!
OHHHHH NICE! Isn't that on the AT!? Does it also go over something called Dragon's Tooth? I remember being stuck in the hostel during my AT LASH and everyonnnneeee was talking about the Virginia triple crown
Just got back and yes, it was spectacular! I started on the AT just before McAfee. Saw that at sunrise and then Tinker Cliffs later that day. The next day was a looong 18 miler where I circled back to Dragons Tooth. Today I finished up the last 7.5 miles back on the AT north to the start. It’s an excellent loop!
Ohhhh my gosh!! It sounds amazing! I bet you took some incredible photos too..?!? Excited to see/Read about it. Also, how much does your pack weigh nowadays with all your camera gear and such? (18 miles is rough through there BTW! Is that the stretch of Virginia also called The Roller Coaster?)
Ha! The Roller Coaster would be a perfect name for it! The route basically follows two very sharp ridge lines on either side of a wide valley. Lots of ups and downs, but honestly not nearly as tough as the Bartram.
I did get some good pics! Wish the weather offered more interesting clouds and atmosphere. Just bluebird skies, for the most part, but nothing I could do about it.
I didn’t weigh out my kit for this one, but it was just marginally heavier than on the Bartram because I brought a couple extra lenses (and didn’t even use one of them).
Well done, Erik, both words and images. Your lovely meditation on the ephemeral nature of the cherry blossoms (and your children growing and going) made me think of Robert Frost’s poem “Nothing gold can stay”:
That means a lot! I love that Frost poem. It’s awesome, in the truest sense of awe! Lots of contrast in life for me right now with no easy answers. Glad my ramblings resonated! 😁
Thanks Kristi! I’m always amazed at how long the cold sticks around up north. I actually like the cold here, but when I get the first taste of warm in the spring I’m done with it. That’s usually sometime in February! 🤣
What the ‘cherry tree’ and other such elements of nature and our surroundings give us always exceeds our expectations. And therein lies their power.
That’s a great observation Alexander!
Thank you
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I had 5 special trees on our farm growing up: a Maple tree with a diameter of at least 8 ft, a beautiful young Blue Spruce, whose color I admired daily, a perfectly shaped Dogwood, when in bloom had this incredible layer of blossoms, and finally, my 2 favorites, a special Gravenstein apple tree that I climbed daily during the fruiting season to grab from little green apples until the last apple disappeared from the tree picking several a day and then going to my final tree, a 50-60 ft tall Douglas Fir that I immediately climbed after picking the apples and sat in the top rocking in the wind for hours each summer day eating my apples!
Each tree meant something different to me but these 5 mattered beyond every other tree on the property!
Having such a close relationship with trees is really a profound connection to place. I don’t know what it means for me to have both an intense wanderlust, but also a deep rooted connection to home. I wouldn’t want to trade either one!
I think it is great that you have both! So do I. There is a place for both.
“Looking at” and “looking in” — what a wonderful practice. I’m going to try it today. That ephemeral visit of blossoms is indeed sweet-sad. We have a tulip magnolia in our front yard that’s also finished after a week of magnificence.
The Japanese revere cherry blossoms precisely because of how brief their flowers are. I can agree impermanence adds to the value of things, but when the seasonal timing doesn’t align with my own timing it leaves me… frustrated. I need more looking in! Thanks Julie!
Love these flowers...even though they werent captured by your "good" camera! I share that weird spring restlessness too...glad it isn't just me. It's like part of my body remembers this is when I tend to go on long hikes! Also also...WHERE ARE YOU GOING?? 😃😃
Haha, thanks! It’s the wanderlust!! Glad to hear that it’s not just me. I’ve had a bit of trouble getting time off of work lately, so this next trip will be a shorter 35 mile loop. It’s called the Virginia Triple Crown cause it goes to McAfee Knob and a couple other Virginia highlights. Hoping for good things!
OHHHHH NICE! Isn't that on the AT!? Does it also go over something called Dragon's Tooth? I remember being stuck in the hostel during my AT LASH and everyonnnneeee was talking about the Virginia triple crown
Just got back and yes, it was spectacular! I started on the AT just before McAfee. Saw that at sunrise and then Tinker Cliffs later that day. The next day was a looong 18 miler where I circled back to Dragons Tooth. Today I finished up the last 7.5 miles back on the AT north to the start. It’s an excellent loop!
Ohhhh my gosh!! It sounds amazing! I bet you took some incredible photos too..?!? Excited to see/Read about it. Also, how much does your pack weigh nowadays with all your camera gear and such? (18 miles is rough through there BTW! Is that the stretch of Virginia also called The Roller Coaster?)
Ha! The Roller Coaster would be a perfect name for it! The route basically follows two very sharp ridge lines on either side of a wide valley. Lots of ups and downs, but honestly not nearly as tough as the Bartram.
I did get some good pics! Wish the weather offered more interesting clouds and atmosphere. Just bluebird skies, for the most part, but nothing I could do about it.
I didn’t weigh out my kit for this one, but it was just marginally heavier than on the Bartram because I brought a couple extra lenses (and didn’t even use one of them).
Nice! The Bartram must have been tough then. Makes me wanna add it to my list...
Looking forward to seeing the images! Yeah blue skies are nice to hike beneath..but not always as fun to shoot!
Great stuff, Erik. I’ve got a black cherry tree outside my office window — just starting to bud. I love watching it change throughout the year.
The years creep up on you, til one day you look and realize what a deep connection has developed. It’s an amazing revelation. Thanks Lou!!
Well done, Erik, both words and images. Your lovely meditation on the ephemeral nature of the cherry blossoms (and your children growing and going) made me think of Robert Frost’s poem “Nothing gold can stay”:
Nature’s first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf’s a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.
That means a lot! I love that Frost poem. It’s awesome, in the truest sense of awe! Lots of contrast in life for me right now with no easy answers. Glad my ramblings resonated! 😁
No easy answers. Isn’t that the truth!
This was so inspiring as I sit here with zero visibility (fog), in -4 temps and fresh snow on the ground 😕
I LOVE those trees in the Springtime. I can't wait until til I see blooming things!!!
Thanks Kristi! I’m always amazed at how long the cold sticks around up north. I actually like the cold here, but when I get the first taste of warm in the spring I’m done with it. That’s usually sometime in February! 🤣
Our Feb was literally like springtime this year (NOT normal at all). Perhaps that’s why we’re all struggling so bad with this shitty April!
We’ve had wild swings here, too, but our cold is nothing compared to yours!