Happy New Year, Happy Trees!

Happy New Year, my darlings!

Back to the trees. Since I haven't been out there too much with my own camera lately...but since it seems appropriate to start the year off with some breathtaking tree imagery...I have looked no further than National Geographic, since their photography is never anything short of fantastic. Feast with your eyes, as I have. These trees are enough to make you certain of a spectacular 2012.

(I've listed the photographer under each image. Click the caption text to go to the Photo of the Day page where it was found, and for photo descriptions).

Reader submitted National Geographic Photo of the Day, September 23, 2011. Photograph by Petr Cunderlik.

Reader submitted National Geographic Photo of the Day, November 10, 2011. Photograph by Kent Shiraishi.

Reader submitted National Geographic Photo of the Day, April 14, 2011. Photograph by Giuliano Mangani.

National Geographic Photo of the Day, May 17, 2011. Photograph by Frans Lanting.

Reader submitted National Geographic Photo of the Day, June 27, 2010. Photograph by Christiano Pessoa.

Reader submitted National Geographic Photo of the Day, December 18, 2010. Photograph by Amnon Eichelberg.


There you have it. Delicious photos, splendid trees! Top to bottom, these trees live in: Czech Republic, Japan, unknown, Namibia, Brazil, and Tanzania.

Bring on 2012!

Spanish Trees

Turns out there are palm trees in Spain. Which may not seem odd to many of you, but for some reason, I had never even considered this possibility, and so it took me by surprise. Especially when I was walking through the very narrow streets of Old Town Barcelona and came upon a palm tree there, just hanging out in a sunny corner, hugging the charming buildings where the cobblestone alleyway opened up just a little bit wider than too-narrow-for-a-car. I'm telling you. It was strange. And delightful. I think because I grew up in Central New York—and to this day have never been to Florida—that I still have this perception of Palm Trees as exotic and other-worldly and endlessly fascinating (as can also be noted here). And this is why I took too many photos of palm trees on my recent visit to Barcelona and Bilbao.

Here is the aforementioned tree, happy in it's cosy surroundings:


And a few more palm trees scattered around this beautiful city:




Peeking above the buildings! So great. And because I wanted to bring them home with me, here are a few more that made me smile. For your enjoyment, as well. The final tree (below) lives in the mountain town of Bilbao, and was enjoyed with a glass of red wine, of course.

Paris, Je t'adore!

Oh! My dear friends. I've just returned from a vacation with my friend Emily to the oh-so-enchanting city of Paris! It really is as wonderful as in the movies and your dreams. Here is a look at how the Parisians do "les arbres."

These pretty smooth trees with the funny hanging fuzz balls are everywhere:




And I do believe I've correctly identified them as "London Plane" trees - a close relative - if not a hybrid – of the American Sycamore and the "Oriental Plane."

Next, Some beautiful October leaves at the Jardin du Luxembourg:



The best place for tree sightings, however, was at the immensely beautiful and breathtakingly extravagant Palace of Versailles. In the gardens there were rows of citrus trees, "Dr. Seuss-like" clipped (topiary) trees (which should be considered "tree art," I think), "square" trees, tall graceful trees, and many more. (I don't know why the French are so obsessed with geometric trees. It's dreadfully unnatural, but fascinating, nonetheless). All were living amidst sculptures and fountains. Glorious! I could spend a week there! Indulge:

**YOUR TREES** [South Africa]

Many thanks to Millicent for sending me these two gorgeous tree photographs, taken on a ranch near Nylstroom, South Africa.

Do you have a great tree photo that you'd like me to post? Please feel free to send it to me at treesifyouplease {at} gmail {dot} com.

a truffula tree, perhaps?

Some of my all-time favorite trees are those created by Dr. Seuss – not a real doctor, but absolutely a genius, as far as I'm concerned. A "Dr. Seuss tree" can't be exactly described, as it is fantastical, but we all know such a tree when we happen upon it in our everyday lives. It will look like it does not quite belong in a world where we take ourselves so terribly seriously. The one above looks like it was transplanted directly off the pages of a Dr. Seuss story, and I have an irresistibly childlike urge to touch it. To squish it. to sit on one of its tufts, perhaps as Horton would have sat upon his nest in another Dr. Seuss tree. I expect that there's at least one Lorax who calls this tree home.

I must not take credit for this photo. It was taken in Switzerland and I discovered it on iStockphoto, which is an amazing stock illustration and photo site that changed my life (or at least my job) once I discovered it. Try it. You won't be disappointed and you won't believe what a dollar will buy.