Like this one, which was pruned severely, although it's not clear why. The trunk lies between two power lines, so it doesn't seem to have been trimmed to avoid the lines.
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| I like to think this tree is sending a message to passers-by: "Peace, People." Or maybe, "Victory!" Over what, I don't know, but probably not the chain saw. |
And this large tree trunk covered with vines. In the summer it's green and beautiful, covered with leaves that ripple in the slightest breeze. At the moment, though, the vines are bare, and it gives the tree a fuzzy look that is unique and endearing.
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| "Embrace your hairiness, and dance like no one is watching!" |
I've also been doing a lot of bird-watching, not the kind with binoculars and a guide book, just the ordinary kind, like people-watching, but with birds.
These ones look like notes on a page of music to me.
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| If you enlarge the photo, you should be able to see the individual toes on the bird at the left. I mean, on the note at the left. |
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| It's a pretty short song. This is clearly the soprano part. |
Update on The Neighbour Crows: they've gone very silent since the nest-making. I've read that the eggs hatch in March-April in this part of the world. Either the parents pulled up stakes and moved, or they are pretending not to be home. I really think it's the first; otherwise I'd have seen some kind of activity, I think. Ah well, I hope they're happy, wherever they are.
Happy birdsong, everyone. And may your trees always tell you interesting stories.
In my neighborhood the sparrows sent the wrens packing. On the other hand, the trees are full of bird song and baby bird complaining.
ReplyDeleteIt's a cruel/beautiful world, isn't it?
DeleteThat tree was probably trimmed to remove most of the weight above the split and make it less likely that it would break in a storm and take the wires out.
ReplyDeleteSince you like the idea of birds on a wire looking like music notes, check this out:
https://vimeo.com/6428069
Someone else liked that idea too.
-Doug in Oakland
Doug! Thank you so much for that awesome video! There are truly not many (any?) ideas that haven't been thought of already, are there? I love it.
DeleteYou are right. Sometimes just carrying the camera can be inspirational.
ReplyDeleteIt's a different mindset, for sure.
DeleteI love your interpretation of birds perched in musical scores. The tree is, I suspect, a work in progress and will eventually come further down. Thanks for taking us along on your walk!
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading, Geo. I loved the video that Doug linked to in his comment above! And I'm keeping a big donkey eye on that tree, waiting to see what happens :)
DeleteThat severely pruned tree reminds me of the giant tree in our backyard that has been decimated by the lowest bidder the power company hired to hack our poor tree to near death. We live near some power lines and every 3-4 years we get an unwelcome visit from whatever cheap company they have hired. I would live to see the tree trunk covered in vines when it's in full bloom. Probably looks pretty cool. Take care.
ReplyDeletePlanning to take a shot of those vines in mid-summer, Mr. S :) Yeah, the power company here does their own trimming and they're pretty drastic too. It's always function over esthetics.
DeleteHi Jenny-I love the vine tree. I hope you'll take a photo of it once it has grown in for the summer. I'd like to see the contrast. The birds on wires remind me of notes, too!
ReplyDeleteIt's on my mental list of things to photograph in a few months' time. Did you see the video Doug linked to, with music by birds on wires? It's very neat.
DeleteYour trees are very poetic, at least when viewed through your lens.
ReplyDeleteThanks for coming by, Angella. I'm looking forward to the time when we'll have something besides bare branches to look at. Your new header is glorious.
DeleteTo clarify, I love the bare branches - but not everyone does, and may be tired of seeing them here. Some blossoms would be good!
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