Tree-Watching Project: Of Seeds and Autumn Leaves and Dreams
September 21, 2012
Dappled summer shade — under the maple tree
“And so the root
becomes a trunk
And then a tree
And seeds of trees
And springtime sap
And summer shade
And autumn leaves
And shape of poems
And dreams –
And more than tree.”
– from “For Russell and Rowena Jelliffe,” Uncollected Poems 1961-1967, by Langston Hughes
Time marches on, as evidenced by the slow changes on my “adopted” maple tree. My photo for this post captured the dappled shade on one of the last days of summer. The autumn equinox is at 7:49 a.m. tomorrow morning in Seattle.
Leaves and seeds
Watercolor sketch of leaves and seeds showing fall colors
September 21, 2012 at 11:31 am
I love this time of year for maples and sweetgums. The variation of colors in the Cotinus leaves (the leaf on the far left of your watercolor sketch) is just awesome.
September 22, 2012 at 9:26 am
So that’s what Smoke bush is really called!
September 22, 2012 at 9:28 am
I had to look it up! When I did so, I also found reference to ‘wig tree,’ a common name I plan to use from this time foreward, just because it’s so fun.
September 22, 2012 at 4:18 am
I do miss the maples. I always loved their color, and, as a kid, playing with the “helicopter” seeds. And always we’d do our “art” project – leaves pressed and sealed between sheets of waxed paper. Such simple joys, and so memorable.
September 22, 2012 at 9:21 am
I remember ironing leaves between sheets of waxed paper, then hanging them in the window like stained glass. thanks for the memory.