“Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.” Warren Buffett
If you’re participating in the Sunday Stills photo challenge, this week’s theme is LEAVES AND TREES.
As humans, are we truly grateful for trees?
For those of us who love nature, each season brings expectations that the weather will behave a certain way, the air temperatures will be mild, and we’ll be awed by the beauty of plants, trees, and landscapes that set a mood.
For example:
We love the changing leaves and colors in the autumn.
In the summer, we enjoy the shade trees provide as a respite from the heat.
In the winter, we mourn the loss of the leaves…
But with great anticipation, we greet the buds and new life in the springtime.
Aren’t we blessed to have trees for all seasons?
“Learn character from trees, values from roots, and change from leaves.” ~ Tasneem Hameed
Climate change continues to alter our seasons. In Eastern Washington, another hot summer has morphed into a warm autumn, delaying the changing of leaves into their spectacular fall colors. By now, on the Centennial Trail, we would see the Aspens in much more golden splendor.
In the last few years we’ve lived here, autumn seems to show up early one year but later another.
Last year, on September 30th, I posted this image for the last on the card hosted by Brian at Bushboys World. The young maple trees were already blushing profusely.
As this week begins, with temperatures in the low 70sF (21C), our trees still hang on to their green leaves.
Lest you think I complain, I eagerly anticipate autumn each year. After years of enduring hot, dry Augusts in Washington and Sacramento, I’m always in the mood for cooler temperatures and colorful leaves.
But why can’t I have THIS now??
Nevertheless, each season brings its charm and splendor. I shot this from my backyard a few days ago.
“Summer mourned her final days amidst her wildflowers and bouquets.” ~ Angie Weiland-Crosby
That same day, I turned around and saw the alpenglow on the hills to the northwest. Kinda purty, eh?
Okay, okay. I will appreciate what I have while I wait for Miss Autumn to appear.
“Life is full of awe and grace and truth, mystery and wonder. I live in that atmosphere.” ~ Dion DiMucci
Sunday Stills Photo Challenge Reminders
The Sunday Stills weekly-themed photo challenge is easy to join. You have all week to share and link your post. Please use your own original images, whether new or from your archives.
- Remember to title your blog post a little differently than mine.
- Please create a new post for the theme or link a recent one.
- Entries for this theme can be posted all week.
- Tag your post “Sunday Stills.”
- Don’t forget to create a pingback to this post so that other participants can read your post.
- I also recommend adding your post’s URL to the comments.
Sharing this week for Cee’s FOTD (leaves), Dawn’s Festival of Leaves, Johnbo’s Cellpic Sunday, and Lens-Artists: Setting A Mood.
I can’t wait to see how you interpret this week’s theme! Creativity is encouraged, so please share your own photographs (old or new), poems, original short stories, and music inspired by the theme.
Due to travel, there will be no Sunday Stills challenge on October 13. We’re heading to the North Cascades of Washington (Winthrop and Mazama) for a family wedding, and we’ll have more about that soon!
I’ll LEAVE you with this as a reminder of what will come when Autumn finally falls!
“I took a walk in the woods and came out taller than the trees.” – Henry David Thoreau
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