The Beginning and Ending of Trees: Trees and views

» dancooper - Trees and views

I agree that trees are an important and enriching part of life. But it is not a view held by all. And I’m not just talking about logging companies and their ilk.

I was once sent to a museum in north Texas, which shares many characteristics with the popular conception of the “old West,” as more typically found in the great expanses of west Texas. There, the views are very long, indeed, stretching sometimes from eastern horizon to western horizon.

Which brings me to the quote from your article:

“I have seen a place where there [are] no trees. Beautiful as Iceland is, I would miss trees if I lived there.”

While at the museum on assignment, I met a girl there who elicited from me a description of the Hill Country, where I was living. That region has relatively light rainfall, so the trees, while plentiful, do not grow to great height except near bodies of water. I was sort of apologizing for the lack of height in the trees of the Hill Country, when my new friend stated that she wouldn’t like to live in the Hill Country. It would make her claustrophobic, she said. All those trees obstructing the view. How strange is the mindset of those who do not know how to appreciate the beneficial and beautiful tree.

Dan Cooper
CE, Vintage and Classic Cars

-- posted by dancooper