Your idea about the Spirit Trees really resonates with me, Tiya. When I was preparing to drive across the county to the East Coast to look for family history, a tree appeared in one of my dreams. It was a massive, old hardwood tree of some kind. What made me remember the dream was how the tree’s leaves seemed to emit light.
I had forgotten all about this dream tree until I reached North Carolina and visited the Skagville Plantation near Durham. When I walked behind one of the cabins where the enslaved people had lived, I was suddenly in the presence of a huge Black walnut with glowing leaves. The tree’s massive dark trunk and branches created a cathedral of dappled light over my head. I stood in awe. When no one was around, I put my hands on its trunk and thanked it for calling to me.
I still don’t understand how trees exert this blessing power over time and space but I guess I don’t have to understand. I'm just grateful that they do.
I recently learned about nurse trees, a descriptor for trees that help other plants grow. One such "nurse" is a palo verde. In the Sonoran Desert, it is common to find young (in plant time, not human time) agave and Saguaro cacti growing beneath palo verde. I hope to learn more about nurse trees on the east coast!
I’ve wondered if there have been any scientific studies on hanging trees and/or lynching site soil. Do you know of any such studies? As your writing points to, there’s a connection between humanity and ecology.
Your idea about the Spirit Trees really resonates with me, Tiya. When I was preparing to drive across the county to the East Coast to look for family history, a tree appeared in one of my dreams. It was a massive, old hardwood tree of some kind. What made me remember the dream was how the tree’s leaves seemed to emit light.
I had forgotten all about this dream tree until I reached North Carolina and visited the Skagville Plantation near Durham. When I walked behind one of the cabins where the enslaved people had lived, I was suddenly in the presence of a huge Black walnut with glowing leaves. The tree’s massive dark trunk and branches created a cathedral of dappled light over my head. I stood in awe. When no one was around, I put my hands on its trunk and thanked it for calling to me.
I still don’t understand how trees exert this blessing power over time and space but I guess I don’t have to understand. I'm just grateful that they do.
Absolutely magical, LC. What an experience. Dream trees -- I am adding that to my mental list. Thank you for sharing.
I recently learned about nurse trees, a descriptor for trees that help other plants grow. One such "nurse" is a palo verde. In the Sonoran Desert, it is common to find young (in plant time, not human time) agave and Saguaro cacti growing beneath palo verde. I hope to learn more about nurse trees on the east coast!
This term is new to me, Perri! Wonderful! Thanks for sharing.
I’ve wondered if there have been any scientific studies on hanging trees and/or lynching site soil. Do you know of any such studies? As your writing points to, there’s a connection between humanity and ecology.