Sunday, March 29, 2015

Trees

A couple weeks ago I was in the South, Georgia and South Carolina, enjoying the early spring. I have a "thing" for trees and I love the efforts I saw to preserve some of these old beauties.



 

Beaufort, SC - Gnarled old branches of a live oak that have wandered over the road for centuries are cared for, a "Clearance - 10 feet" sign alerting vehicles passing under.

 

 

Hilton Head Island - Another sign reminds walkers and bikers to duck under the branches at a park entrance.

 

 

 

Savannah - Colonial Park Cemetery. Spanish moss hangs from the old oaks shading the graves of Colonial leaders and heroes of the American Revolutionary War.

 

 

 

Hilton Head - Cypress trees make a valiant effort to create a root system that will let them hang on in their fight against constant erosion by wind and water.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Harbor Town, Hilton Head - Plans to build a harbor here were altered to preserve this huge live oak. It was given a name - the Liberty Oak - and the environmentalist responsible for its preservation, Charles Fraser, is buried beneath its branches.

 

 

 

 

 

Redbuds

One of my dad's favorite poems was this one, and he enjoyed reciting it often from memory.

TREES

I think that I shall never see

A poem as lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest

Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,

And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that in summer wears

A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;

Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,

But only God can make a tree.

Joyce Kilmer, American poet, father of five, killed by a sniper's bullet in the Battle of Marne in World War I.

Well said, Mr. Kilmer!

Thanks for reading my blog. I enjoy reading your comments and will be by to read yours in return.

 

26 comments:

  1. Isn't Beaufort, S.C. a delightful town, and I love it that Pat Conroy lives nearby. That whole area is wonderful (when it isn't raining!)!

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  2. Cynthia I admire tree definitely fantastic

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  3. Beautiful post. Beautiful trees. The brickwork in the old cemetery caught my interest, too.

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  4. What beautiful trees so worth all the care and attention. I have never heard that poem before but it is so apt.

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  5. Good God - memories come flooding back - that poem! My Grandmothers would recite that to me when I was little and it became
    my favourite poem. I recall even standing on a stage in a very junior school concert and reciting with great aplomb ( well I thought so)
    this poem.
    I hope the people of GA and SC read road signs - they are not very good at it here in Australia!!!

    Hilton Head would be interesting - I think it still hosts major tennis and golfing events - it did anyhow once.
    Quite a few Aussie sporting stars of tennis and golf fame made Hilton Head their away from Australia base.
    Evonne Goolagong-Cawley, our Tennis great of the 70/80's, made Hilton Head her home for many years
    after retiring from the tennis circuit. Her kids were all born there and I believe besides being dual citizens
    (Aus/USA), these children have made the USA their home. Evonne and hubbie (HOH - "her other half")
    have returned to live now in Noosa, just 90 minutes north of Brisbane.

    Well done - great post.
    Cheers
    Colin
    PS: Very dark (6.30 am) clouds overhead - bugger!

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  6. I've always liked this poem since I first learnt it at school. Those trees are (every tree) wonderful!
    The oaks and Spanish moss brings more charm to the place. It fits well in a cemetery.

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  7. I love trees too Cynthia and I remember and like the poem too. Lovely captures :-)

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  8. Well said indeed. I fear that, although we love our trees here in New Zealand, that someone would have neatly trimmed off those low lying branches, citing them as a hazard. I like that they were left, with a warning.

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  9. I really like the spectacular trees you found.

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  10. Beautiful trees all...especially that Redbud! :)

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  11. Beautiful poem, one that I have never come across before and striking trees.

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  12. It is nice they warn the people for the low branches and not cutting them off.

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  13. The trees are beautiful down here, right now the Dogwoods are all in bloom.

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  14. I have always loved that poem. Trees, I can't live where there are none, it's just too depressing. I have battled to save each tree I hear someone saying they plan to cut down, most often I lose the argument but I always hope they remember some of my arguments when they think of cutting down another one. These trees you have shared are so beautiful mostly because they have not been pruned to make it easier to walk under to allow their real form to grow unrestrained.

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  15. What an inspiring post (especially in this disposable age) that speaks to the goodness in mankind when an old tree is preserved and respected and nurtured.

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  16. I love all the trees too, gorgeous images.. Have a happy week!

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  17. Wonderful post about southern trees ~ Beautiful photography and bet it was a lovely trip!

    Happy Week to you,
    artmusedog and carol

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  18. Those trees will out last all of us, and we do well to remember it. Lovely blossoms

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  19. Oh these trees are magnificent. I love them.

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  20. enjoyed your post and photos :)

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  21. What a great place for photos. I did enjoy time in GA and love all the flora there. I have a 'thing' for trees, too. I take shots of stands of them all the time--Hubby thinks I'm nuts, I'm sure but he never complains!

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  22. Wow -- gorgeous tree shots.

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  23. The old oak is magnificent and so fitting that the environmentalist is buried beneath its roots. I love the redbuds and your Dad's poem. Take care x

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  24. Nice they left the trees and warned the people. - Margy

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  25. I thought of you and this post today. I was wandering in a thrift shop and spotted Joyce Kilmer's Anthology of Catholic Poets. I have a feeling I got a very good deal on the volume. A hard copy published in 2010 is going for nearly $40 and the one I found is a second edition. Wishing you a Happy Easter.

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