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April 2021: Earth Day

4/30/2021

What is a Tree?

What is a tree?
To some, a mere commodity
To be bought for one’s own use
To increase the value
Of the property.

To others an inspiration
To sit beneath and compose
Lyrics to a song, a melody,
Paean of praise
Or an essay in prose.

And to others still,
A fellow living being
To let live and grow
To leaf out, flower,
Spread its seed, as it willl.

-MW

Berkeley Hills

Trees: A Photo Essay
all photos by Mary unless otherwise specified

A tree is a living thing, just as you and I. It is born, grows, lives and dies. And struggles to survive, through any obstacles in its path. And sometimes humans let the trees grow wild, untouched, to fulfill their destiny.

The Earth is large and there is room for all of us. Even in the city, there are parks where trees can grow more or less untouched by humans, providing shelter for the wildlife.

Wildcat Trail, Tilden Spring 2021

Tilden hills under an early evening full moon. Spring 2021

San Pablo Reservoir Spring 2021

Yard in the Berkeley Hills

Humans may use a tree for their own advantage, such as to provide shade or perhaps for a swing. A child has fun swinging after a long day on Zoom School. Or an adult spends a few precious moments alone on the swing in silent meditation. And the tree has not been harmed.

Humans grow trees and this is good. They plant them to reforest bare areas, to provide wind breaks to keep the soil from blowing away, to plant in city parks and private gardens. These trees provide shade, clean air, and enjoyment. Trees are grown and cut for use as Christmas trees.Yes, the trees are cut, then discarded, but their wood provides mulch and new trees are planted in their stead. Instead of a bare plot of land, there is a miniature human made forest. And when the trees are transported to the city, for a few weeks there is a previously bare lot covered with trees and smelling of the forest, providing a magical place for families to visit and pick out their tree.

Photos from Flikr via Weebly. May not be copied or altered.

But some humans see trees only as a commodity, a handy place to drive a nail for hanging things. They do not notice the wound in the bark of the tree. They do not wonder if the tree feels it or reacts. To them a tree is an inanimate object.

.And to many others, a tree is a nuisance. A view blocker. A leaf dropper. A wrecker of concrete. These people are often adamant. They are convinced they are right. They see the tree as an object alone, one that can easily be removed, just as one might move a lawn chair. For these people, even fences are more respected. They serve a purpose. These people don't see the purpose of the tree, don't see the shade it provides, the protection from the wind and storms, the provider of habitat and food for wildlife. They see only an obstacle in their way. "Cut it down" they demand. And too often, they get their own way.

While the tree owners weep for the loss only they see. The birds move to another tree, but as more trees are cut, they become fewer.

Fortunately, there are others who seek to live in and with Nature and build accordingly. They stand their ground, refusing to cut down their redwoods or deface them. And then those us us who walk those streets are rewarded with morning birdsong, cool shade, and a sense of peace.

House in the Berkeley hills on a street filled with birdsong

May we appreciate trees for all they offer us: climate control, visual pleasure, cleaner air, and peace. We humans cannot exist without trees, so let us preserve rather than destroy them, here at home and far away in the rain forests of the world. They are our future.

What is Progress?
Earth Day Musings

A long time ago, people came to this continent. There were other animals already here, as well as flowering plants and trees. Then came the people wandering from afar. Or so it is said by  the scientists.  Others believe otherwise. Whatever the facts, these people wandered in and settled in small groups, The people ate what they found, both plant and animal, and they built lodging out of the plants they found. In this, they lived much as all animals, using what they needed to survive. And they lived this way for many years. They were different in one way from the others: they used fire. For warmth, for cooking, for managing their oak groves and grasslands. But this did not change the environment to any great degree.
Then one day, rather suddenly, a barrage of other people from other lands drove in on horses, and covered wagons and sailed in on ships from far away. These people brought animals with them, heavy animals that needed large grazing lands. The new people planted grains for these animals. The landscape was changed and the Native population of humans was decimated rather quickly through disease, loss of their land, and outright violence against them.
A city rapidly grew up, at first chaotic, regularly ravaged by fires. But these humans were resourceful and ambitious. They quickly rebuilt their city, each time making improvements. Permanent buildings were built, sewers and water lines put in, and finally streets were paved. The wildlife moved out of the city into the nearby countryside.
And so the area was on a quick rollercoaster ride of change. Over the years, the humans spread out into the countryside and new cities and suburbs sprang up. The once abundant wildlife grew scarcer. The air and water grew foul. But again, these humans were resourceful and knowledgeable. They learned. And took action.
What did they learn? Through research and observation, they learned to scrub the water and air clean with fancy machines. But they still used gasoline and natural gas and oil. They learned to use windmills and sun for energy. But to do this, they needed land, which they took from the animals. They designed more energy-efficient automobiles and trucks, but they traveled more miles than before. They designated some land as protected so the plants and animals could thrive. But soon, people crowded in here too, talking loudly, leaving trash and demanding that dangerous trees be removed.
Imagine two people standing on Twin Peaks, looking down at the city and across the Bay. What do they see? Below, a landscape of tall, gray or white concrete structures, the area void of trees. Automobiles, the sun glinting off their windshields. Bridges of steel spanning the water. Large ships traversing the Bay. On the other side, the shoreline is lined in concrete, paved roads and rail tracks at its edge. A few marshes remain. Where once there were thousands of pelicans, one flock flies by. On the hills, where  there were once large stands of tall redwoods, sit houses and a few leftover redwoods And a gash in the hill, a quarry now abandoned but its damage still evident.
What do they hear?  One lone mockingbird on the hill where they stand. Car engines, sirens, a dull roar of traffic.
One turns to the other. “This is progress. Look at how far we’ve come."
The other turns slowly and looks her companion in the eyes. “What is progress?” she asks. “What has been gained? Are the trees healthier? Are the animals better off? And we? Do we live better? In the past, if a dwelling burnt down, the inhabitants rebuilt their tule hut in one day. Earthquakes were of little concern, for there were no large buildings to fall. The people lived in peace and had plenty of food and water. They knew only their little world and did not worry about strife elsewhere.  Are we better off than they?”
Her companion was silent. For what could he say?

Progress. A word known only to humans.

All writing by MW this month. Piccola and JM are recovering from dental surgery.
To be continued....

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April 2021: Arbor Day

4/30/2021

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What is a tree?

A plant grown tall
Provides shade for usl.
A home, food, safety
Where deer, squirrel, turkey
Rest in comfort and peace.
Gives life to us all.

Pine tree, once
Grew taller
Than the house
A-spirrf to the sky
But ,without a voice,
Is now gone.
Bereft, bare
Stump is left.

Spring morning walk
Alone, silence...
Then I turn the corner.
Chirps, whistles fill my ears.
Waking birds welcome dawn,
Greeting one another.
But why here and not there?
I look around and see
Towering trees, redwoods
Obscuring the houses.
Listening, watching,
I am at peace.

A sad day when sterile
Hard concrete trumps Nature’s
Leafy, cool shade and
Bird sanctuary.

Once….
Horsetails grew
All over here,
Lining creek beds.

Relic from
The Age of Dinosaurs,

A favorite of mine.
I liked to play with it,
Pulling off the sections
And fitting them back.

But I stopped.
Older, wiser,
I didn’t want
To harm the plant.

One day a family
Moved onto the land,
Built a large, fancy house,
With the finest materials.

But…

They razed the dinosaur
Placed stones over the soil
Planted exotic flowers
In large earthenware pots
.

Then….

One hardy horsetail
Poked its head
Through the granite

It had survived
For millions of years
This latest assault
Was but a blip.

And…

It would still be alive
Long after
The humans
Were gone.

The Man and his Trees

Once there was a young man who set out from his family home, his heart full of hope and joy. He loved life and was ready to meet it head-on. He travelled and studied then  found a job where he could teach and continue his studies. Life was good.
The man found a nice plot of land nearby. He cleared it of its weeds and built a fine house on the hill overlooking the Bay. Then he set about finding a woman with whom to share the house. With a job, a house, a wife and a child on the way, the man was very busy. But he spent time making a garden as well. First he planted a vegetable garden and fruit trees. Then he set about planting trees along the perimeter of his property  that would provide shelter, privacy and shade and would hold the soil in place.
The man was proud of his trees and rejoiced as they grew quickly. There were many kinds, both native to the area and those he knew from childhood. His favorite was the maple which leafed out every Spring with large dark red leaves.
The trees grew as the man worked hard at his profession, Despite infighting in his department,  he prospered in his work and  finally one day published a mighty tome. But he had grown bitter towards the world. His soul was now filled with disappointment in humanity.
The trees were now mature and he rejoiced in them. But soon the neighbors began to complain. The trees were too tall, they were blocking their view. Just take out this one, the neighbor to the right said. Just take out that one, the neighbor to the left said. Finally one day the man called the neighbors together.
“You have each told me just to take out one or two trees,” he said. “And you say that is not too much to ask. But if I take out the trees each of you says, I will have none left.”

The neighbors left and the man took out no trees. But new neighbors moved in with new demands. Then the city that had grown up around the man’s house began to talk of fire danger. A few trees grew old and had to be taken down. Little by little, the trees went. First those in the back, then those to the South. The sun now shone relentlessly on the roof of the house. The wind blew without any trees to slow its course. The birds and squirrels grew fewer. And the man grew more embittered.
Finally, there was one tree left on the South side. The man loved that tree. But the neighbor only saw the needles it dropped and the roots that grew under her concrete steps. She insisted it be taken down. The man said no. But his son, who now owned the house, said yes.
Meanwhile, the neighborhood was filled with the sounds of saws. Everywhere, people were cutting their trees, for one reason or another. The area became more and more bare. The birds became more scarce.
One day the man heard a saw. He asked his companion who was trimming trees that day. She quietly informed him that it was his own tree that would be cut down that day. The man stared at her in horror. “No!” he shouted. “They can’t! I won’t allow it!” But he had no choice. The tree cutters were there. They had been hired by his son; he could do nothing about it. The man went inside and shut himself in his study and wouldn’t come out. He ate neither lunch nor supper that day. Finally he crawled into bed without speaking to anyone and fell into a troubled sleep.
The next morning, the man went outside first thing. He sat in his favorite lawn chair and looked out to the South. There was no tree. There were no birds, no squirrel. His companion came to sit beside him. And the man put his head in his arms and wept. Wept for the loss of his trees and the loss of his boyhood dreams.

The Woman and her Oak Tree

Once a young woman moved into a little house. She thought about getting a dog or a bird as a companion, but she worked long hours and didn’t want to leave a pet alone. There was a small oak sapling in the woman’s yard. She decided to leave it. “Let grow what wills to grow,” she said. And grew it did. As the oak grew, a scrub jay came to sit on its branches. Every morning, the jay would tap on the window and ask the woman to give it a peanut. Soon a squirrel joined the bird. It sat on an oak branch outside the study window and wagged its tail at the woman. She would get up from her desk and find a peanut for the squirrel. Now she had two pets.
Soon there were even more animals. These were more shy but the woman still loved their quiet presence. The oak tree was now tall and filled with leafy branches. And it was bearing acorns. A buck would come to sleep under its canopy. Then a doe and her fawns came to browse for acorns. A crowd of turkeys would wander up the walk for a drink of water and scratch the ground for acorns. Various small birds visited the tree for insects. The woman enjoyed watching them all. She felt she was in good company and their quiet presence helped her concentrate on her work.

But there was one animal that didn’t like the oak tree. That was the human who lived behind the woman. The oak tree was ruining his view, he said. So the woman obligingly cut out a window in the foliage so the neighbor would have a view. She made sure she did it in the season when there were no acorns or nests in the tree. The next year the neighbor complained again. The foliage had grown back. Of course, the woman told him. If you cut a tree, it will grow back even stronger. He pushed and prodded and again she cut some more foliage and this time, at his insistence, she cut some larger branches. He still was not happy. She hired the arborist he chose and he seemed happy for a year, but the following year he said more branches must go. Meanwhile, there had been little rain and the oak tree was looking stressed. The woman worried about it. It’s only a tree, people told her. You can always replace it with something more suitable to city life. And your neighbor has a right to his view. It makes his property so much more valuable when he sells it. The neighbor kept insisting and the woman hired a top arborist who trimmed the tree heavily but kept it intact.
There was now little shade to keep the woman’s study cool and the weeds, before suppressed by the oak’s large canopy, began to sprout. The deer came less often. There were fewer birds. And the neighbor was still unhappy. He insisted that three main trunks should be cut so he would have a view of the entire Bay. I can see the bridge now, he said, but I also want to see the island, that little one too, and the oil tanks on the hill. I like to look at them all. Then he added, I hope we can still be friends.

At this point, the woman lost patience. She had paid a lot of money over the years to appease this neighbor, she had felt guilty for taking away his view, she had trimmed the tree every two years, letting him tell the arborist what he wanted. And in return, she was losing her animal companions and her shade. She might even lose her beloved oak tree, which she loved more than her house. They were her friends, not the neighbor, who did nothing for her. She had said nothing when his dog barked all day and night, she had not complained when his outdoor light awakened her at 5am every morning, she had not complained about the acacia tree that caused her such misery during the allergy season. She believed in live and let live. But he obviously did not. So the woman decided that she would no longer listen and would let the oak tree be. For the oak tree asked nothing of her but to be let to live. And in return, it gave her so much.

But the neighbor kept insisting every year and finally, he hired a lawyer. The woman had no money nor energy to fight. She moved to a small apartment where she had no garden, no tree, no animal pets. Every morning, she would awaken and go into the kitchen, where she would make a cup of tea. As she sipped the tea, she would stare at the blank wall of the apartment next door and paint a picture in her mind of her beloved oak, with its birds and squirrels and deer. Then she would sigh.
One day, she walked by her old house. The oak tree was gone. She walked up the hill to the house behind her. There was a for sale sign and over it was a large word SOLD. She saw her former neighbor talking to the realtor.
“That was a great sale. Thanks! I’m glad you convinced those people to cut down their tree. It cost me a thousand dollars but I made $100,000 more in the sale. And now the new people have an unsurpassed view. And there are no more pesky squirrels or birds around either.”
“And does your new place have a view?” the realtor asked.
“Oh, no. It doesn’t matter. We don’t look out our window much anyway. It was really about the money. We knew we were going to sell soon and we wanted top price for our house. Fair trade, no? A weed of a tree in exchange for 100,000 dollars. I never understood why that woman couldn’t see that.”
The woman shook her head and headed back down the hill. On the way home, she stopped at the art store on the corner and bought a box of colored pencils. When she got to her little apartment, she sat in the kitchen and tried to sketch the oak tree she had loved so much, and all the animals who had come to partake of its treasures. She tried to sketch a memory.

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