THE SECRET LIFE OF TREES

What must it be like to be a tree?  Strong, varied, amazing contributors, under appreciated, ill used, veritable mini-houses for a variety of lives. A fire whisked through this area, but these small desert trees still stand in defiance. They beat the flames; maybe even struggling to grow back from the roots.

It is the time of year when the trees "bones" are showing. The softening affect of the leaves can't hide the scars this tree bears from multiple wounds and prunings during its life.

 Another appears to cry for its missing branches as it takes on the look of a face.

Misuse by humans leaves this tree disfigured as its flesh encompasses the barbed wire attached there to give strength to a fence. The horses use it as a place to scratch their sides as well as their accepted boundary.

 How long before this tree breaks the bonds that strangle it for a temporary show at Christmas, except, they have become permanent bonds.

 The bones of this tree have been twisted and torqued into odd shapes and abnormal bends when younger. It still manages to hold its own and provide a wide sweeping, umbrella canopy over its owner's driveway and parked car.

  This one the victim of a vehicle. The wound will eventually grow smooth edges and heal. Its upper trunk holds a different type of scar.

This oak harbors a read headed woodpecker family that I've seen several times while out walking.

 

And among the peeling layers of bark, this eucalyptus gives purchase to some climbing ivy.

Some force during its youth has given it a bump and crooked its growth. 

What was supposed to be two trees, grew into a single. One base and two major branches form a strong, fat, trunk.

Its become so strong, it could support a much larger canopy.

This old oak has lost so many branches, it has knobs, on knobs, but still manages to stand strong and healthy, a supplier of shade, a home to birds, and other creatures.
Then spring and summer began leafing them out, cover the bones and you forget what they looked like in their winter guise. I've always had a special affection for trees. I've even been called a tree hugger.

And, its true.