Mother Beech

This tree has been through a lot and not all of it good. This image doesn’t show the extensive wound on the trunk and the work the tree has been doing to heal. Yet this beech tree has a comfortable feel to it as it cradles last season’s leaves for whatever the next step of their journey may be.

I’m attracted to the play of colors against the beech’s stolid, if textured grey. The leaves and whatever is causing the lighter green area in the upper right work to set off the grey. They help to highlight the bark’s lumpy texture, which reminds me of older folks with a bit too much skin. Happens to trees too, I guess…

And because I’m in the mood, I’ll take my anthropomorphism one step further. I imagine the leaves and other detritus being warmly welcomed into the life of this European Beech. I sense that there’s a sort of welcome here, not something I exactly understand but it comforts me.

I’ll take it!