Guided By Trees…..

I have always been drawn to trees. Trees in the forests, trees lining neighborhoods - dressing the landscape around a home. My favorite as a child were the trees we could climb, steady limbs allowing me to embrace its strength as I was able to reach the next limb. They always gave me proper footing and allowed me to get higher and higher so I could peak up through an opening in the branches to see the view from below in the horizon. Trees made to install rope swings along a river. Memories along a river where I grew up where we would take a long rope to tie off on a large oak or maple along the river. Fond memories were had with trees in my life. I even built a tree house in an ash that we had in my home I grew up in. A place to play pretend in….calling it our “unity fort”! As an adult and I began to travel the world, I would always look to see the trees in the new place I would visit. How do they connect to where I am from? Are they similar species? Are they similar color or height? I would lay my hands on the trees I felt close to and gather their energy. Some of the most amazing trees I have seen were in The Pacific Northwest of Seattle and Alaska. The pure beauty they carried with moss often growing on the limbs like green hair hanging down. Obtrusive structures towering like buildings through the natural environment. The Georgia area was also so green and lush with many species of towering giants…I could picture myself in the woods here. The gentle giants of the world providing so much for us to look at, to shade us, to give us pure air to breathe. Recently, I was set to landscape my own homes new backyard setting. Researching trees that would grow in the moderate clay soil of Colorado was a challenge. Many trees at the beginning stages may not make it here unless planted at a very good time in our climate. Spring or Fall is best….not too hot and dry and not too cold to cause a freeze or wet snow to break the limbs. I visited a large tree farm in Longmont - it was like an overwhelming magical maze for me. The yard I was landscaping was not the largest, but we wanted some screening from other homes behind us so we knew we wanted something that grows taller but not so wide. We wanted green all year round so we knew pine trees were in the forefront. The hunt was on at this farm! I came across a tree that had a curved branch and needle that gave dimension - the Bosnian Pine it was called. I had never seen one of these before - the pyramid shape and the way it carried itself was so magical to me. I quickly picked out 4 of these ladies. I wanted diversity, so I also picked out a couple of smaller species with soft needles that also grew upward instead of outward. Something unique in style with a deep green and blue tone….I found it, a vanderwolf - limber pine. The tree had a lighter blue tone to it which called to me. Blues being my favorite colors of the spectrum. We needed some deciduous next - just a couple… At the ends of the back corners I chose a flowering plum tree…deep purple leaves, dark trunk and bark, gorgeous pink flowers in the spring. We were all set to take them all home in my trailer. The bunch were pulled up from their temporary burl-aped britches and brought to the front loading area, additional burlap was added to their bases for protection and they were lifted up onto the trailer one by one. As they were put into my backyard…planting each in their designated place, I spoke to these ladies…asking for the protection, for their ability to provide for our yard, giving us new energy to bare space just dirt, giving a place for the birds to fall on, future shelter and screening and beauty in colors from season to season. My own gentle giants of suburbia……well soon to be giants in about 15 years or so.

Sending rays of light to you all……Geoff