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J Callender Photography's avatar

Love the immensity (is that a word?) captured in the image!

If I did a similar story it would have to be the Black Walnut we have, which is likely to become part of a story as I plan to experiment with using some of the walnuts in a Kombucha.

Looking forward to the new adventures in the new place!

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Diana Pappas's avatar

Thank you Joe! It is indeed an immense tree and I am glad that comes across here.I like to think that everyone has a special tree friend (whether they are aware of it or not). I think it is fitting that yours has something to contribute to your kombucha!

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John Charlton's avatar

That's one beautiful old tree. We have a mixture of red and white oaks interspersed with sugar maples. All youngsters now at about half a century but already towering over our driveway. They are all friends and I love them dearly. I remember crying during an ice storm one year, when all around were the sounds of breaking branches. Mostly these were white birches snapping in half, but the oaks were forever changed that day too. What a privilege it is to live long enough in one place to know the life of a tree. Thank you for your essay. A lucky tree to have you as a friend.

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Diana Pappas's avatar

Thank you, John! Your driveway is so beautiful, and now I know why - it is lined with friends. We lost the dogwood tree I grew up with outside my bedroom window last year and I am misting up just thinking about it now - it peaked in time for our wedding back in 2012 and had been on the decline for the last 5 years before it called it quits last year. A devastating loss... I sure hope this white oak outlives us all.

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S&S Bland's avatar

That is a beautiful tree and it is looking very healthy. Lovely image Diana!

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Diana Pappas's avatar

Thank you! It is looking lovely this year - not too stressed thankfully!

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Rita Ott Ramstad's avatar

What a glorious, gorgeous tree! I would miss it, too. The texture of the bark in your first photo is so rich. Love these words and images.

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Diana Pappas's avatar

Thank you, Rita! I so wish I could pack it and take it with me.

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Susanne Helmert's avatar

Beautiful love story to a beautiful tree! I hope it has a long life!

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Diana Pappas's avatar

Thank you so much Susanne, I hope it has a long life too and is treasured by those that come after us.

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Davin Trail-Risk's avatar

I love this elegy to your elder companion. We have some smaller and younger fruit trees that we consider elders in our yard. Fruit trees don’t usually get to the generation spanning ages of great oaks but they still hold that longer connection to a place than we can. Beautiful words and image for a good friend.

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Diana Pappas's avatar

Davin, thank you. I have been wondering what special trees immediately come to mind to people who have read my piece so thank you for sharing. I hope your fruit tree elders continue to provide and thrive for many years to come.

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Davin Trail-Risk's avatar

Our “Elder Apple” is likely on its last year but there is another not much younger apple tree waiting in the wings to claim the title.

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Katy's avatar

Beautiful! I could almost feel the leaves in that second photo. I understand having grief connecting to a tree - my neighbours in my building chopped down 2 out of the 3 trees we have on our property not long after moving in... I wasn't particularly happy! They're entire worlds. I always think of them as dinosaurs, just towering above us. Definitely worth photographing and framing!

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Diana Pappas's avatar

Thanks so much for your comment, Katy, and for subscribing too! You are so right - they are indeed entire worlds, and your grief is absolutely understandable to those of us who have special trees in our lives, including the trees we’ve lost. You don’t ever get over these losses do you? And do I even need to mention the Sycamore Gap tree?

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