This week, I felt inspired to use TREES as our theme for the Sunday Stills photo challenge. Feel free to share any types of trees and be creative with the simple prompt.
“There are over 60,000 species of trees that come in all shapes and sizes, from majestic cedars to smaller fruit trees and shrubs.” SOURCE
There are basically two classifications of trees: deciduous trees and evergreen trees.
Deciduous trees shed their leaves in autumn.
Evergreens keep their leaves (needles) throughout the year.
Then there is the outlier in my neck of the woods in the form of an “evergreen/pine tree” that LOOKS like a green pine tree but is actually deciduous. It goes through the phase of changing color and losing its “leaves” in autumn.
These are Western Larch or Tamarack. A practiced eye can discern their distinctive shape even when green.
Stands of Western Larches changing colors
I planted three Western Larch trees, and they are growing nicely. By October, they will change to golden yellow, then lose their feathery “needles” completely.
“All the trees are losing their leaves and not one of them is worried.” – Donald Miller
Since we’ve lived in our Washington home for almost 5 years, we’ve planted 28 trees on our property.
“A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.” – Greek proverb
The three Quaking Aspen are almost 15 feet tall!
Activities Under the Trees
Trees and shade invite a host of activities in which to take part, whether it’s a walk on a trail…
… Afloat down a tree-lined river…
“Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads.” — Henry David Thoreau
… Hanging by ropes from trees on a challenge ropes course …
… Or just resting under the trees in the campus quad after a long day.
Six Ways Trees Benefit Us
According to The Nature Conservancy, there are 6 ways trees benefit all of us:
- Trees help fight climate change.
- Trees boost our mental and physical health.
- Trees clean the air so we can breathe more easily.
- Trees and forests provide habitat for a diversity of life.
- Trees cool down your life, and could even save it.
- Trees and forests filter your water, making your drinking supply cleaner and more reliable.
Bring the Trees Indoors
What? No backyard, you say? If you are unable to plant trees in your own yard, you can bring the look of trees into your home with decor.
“… and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.” – Isaiah 55:12
Sharing this week for Johnbo’s Cellpic Sunday and Lens-Artists: Sports and Games.
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 from mine.
- Please create a new post for the theme or link to 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.
If you are participating in the photo challenge, 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. Join me next week as we explore “THINGS UNDER CONSTRUCTION.”
“In nature, nothing is perfect and everything is perfect. Trees can be contorted, bent in weird ways, and they’re still beautiful.” — Alice Walker
All posts are copyrighted on this blog. Please do not repost or reblog.
© 2025 Copyright — secondwindleisure.com — All Rights Reserved
Second Wind Leisure Perspectives 
What is YOUR perspective? Please include your name if WP identifies you as “anonymous.