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.
Apr 24, 2023·edited Apr 24, 2023Liked by Tiya Miles
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.
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.