Tree Hugger

I was driving around with a friend last weekend and as we drove I kept pointing out different trees to her. I was saying stuff like, "See those locusts, around that farmhouse? They always make me think of a Currier and Ives print.", or, "Look at that oak. Did you see the size of that? It must be at least 200 years old." Later I thought that I really have a "thing' for trees and I actually know a little about them. I'm drawn to trees, old ones especially. Actually I'm a plant freak and have had several jobs involving them. Trees speak to me in a language I can "hear" but cannot explain.
I grew up in a farm house that was built in the 1800's and our very large yard was full of a variety of trees. We had a yellow apple tree, two bartlett pears, a syckle pear, two mullberries, two huge popples, (which were struck by lightning more than once),a catalpa, a white birch, and a weeping birch, two sugar maples, three white oaks, one soft maple, a plum and a hickory nut tree. I don't think I forgot any. I could still tell you many details about every one of these. I spent a lot of time in and around them all. I was wondering who taught their names to me, my dad I guess. When I walk in the woods I can identify most of the trees and plants around me. It's important to me to know this. They matter to me. I can tell you about various trees or stands of trees in differnt places I frequent. Like, there are two huge beech trees in two different yards in my home town. The biggest elm tree in the county is in the town I live in now.There is a stand of old growth hemlocks in a park I ride to on the bike. There are 3 massive oaks in a triangle of land heading into Ithaca on Route13. There are a couple of very old oaks we go looking for "hen of the woods" mushrooms on in the beginning of fall. I could go on and on here. The point I'm making is I notice these things just like I would notice an interesting person. In fact I probaly have better relationships with the trees in my life than the people. That speaks volumes, doesn't it? They're easier. Trees make me happier much of the time too and they always have.

I know how riveting this post was for all of you. I admit that I'm a  "tree hugger" and I bet I'm not the only one.