Today I Was Given A Gift

I love trees.

I have no training in botany. More often than not I can not identify the species of a tree. It's not a matter, I don't think, of needing to know specifically what you are looking at in order to appreciate it.

Trees, to me, are majestic.

I love to study the shape of trees. I get great enjoyment seeing how the tree looks in different light at various times of the day. The seasonal changes fascinate me.

Trees, to me, are one of the true wonders of our world.

When I was a child I would go for walks with my grandmother. I suppose that fueled the feelings I have about trees.

We would walk along as though we had all the time in the world. We'd talk about everything, and nothing. She knew what all the trees were. We'd stop and study how they looked. She taught me to have respect for trees, as she taught me to respect people.

These feelings played out in my mind today. I had the opportunity to see the largest Cucumbertree Magnolia tree in the United States. It was absolutely magnificent.

(Ohio's National Champion Trees)

The magnolia is located in the Auburn Knolls subdivision in North Canton, Ohio. I can't begin to express the appreciation I felt for the opportunity to experience it.

I only had a few minutes today. These are the shots I got...


A bit of perspective...

This tree is over 400 years old. It stands 79 feet tall and spreads 88 feet at the crown. The circumference is 288 inches.

In terms of perspective this should help...