Why Trees?
Why do trees figure so prominently in my shared photos and images?
Trees are the most significant aspect of my love for nature. While I deeply appreciate the ocean, lakes, rivers, and mountains, there is something uniquely grounding and transcendent about trees. They symbolize resilience, community, and the interconnectedness of life.
When I lived in Panama City Beach during the transition out of the COVID-19 pandemic, I felt a profound homesickness for the forests of North Georgia. The scrub trees near the beach, weathered and beaten by the winds, had their own beauty and strength, but I missed the rich, deep greens and browns of the forests I grew up with. The layered hues and textures of those woodlands evoke a sense of familiarity and rootedness that nothing else can replicate.
Beyond their aesthetic appeal, trees hold a deeper significance for me. They are silent witnesses to life, interconnected in ways that mirror how communities ideally should function. Trees support one another through their canopies and root systems, nourishing each other and fostering the growth of fungi, animals, and other life forms. Even in death, they continue to contribute to the ecosystem, teaching us about the cycles of life and renewal.
The image I recently shared, created using AI tools, reflects this understanding. I envisioned it as a representation of our potential as a community—a vision of individuals coming together for the common good, just as trees do in the forest. This image also ties into a passion project of mine: Exploring Common Ground, a series I’ve initially started on my Swellcast, while I reconsider the format. Although this series is still rough and in its early stages, it’s an attempt to delve into the themes of unity and shared purpose, much like the lessons trees offer us. I’ll admit, I find it easier to express these ideas in writing, where I can organize and edit my thoughts, than in the five-minute podcast format.
Returning to trees and their personal significance—can you recall moments when you’ve been embraced by a favorite tree (or perhaps one you’ve just met)? Did you feel nurtured within its branches or rooted in its shade? Was there a portal within its trunk that transported your imagination to a safe and magical place? For me, certain trees offer an inexplicable sense of safety and comfort. They seem to hold ancient knowledge, reaching deep into the earth while standing tall in the present. In a poem, I once referred to their crowns as ballgowns swaying in a dance with the wind.
Trees possess a language and magic all their own. They invite us to zoom out, observe, and listen. Within their quiet wisdom lies an endless source of inspiration and connection, a reminder that we too are part of something much greater than ourselves.
-- Brenda Fanning
For further reading on the interconnected lives of trees, consider Peter Wohlleben’s The Hidden Life of Trees or Suzanne Simard’s work on the “wood wide web.” Research articles or papers on mycorrhizal networks, which discuss how trees and fungi share nutrients and signals underground.