Talking on the Stump

Words From Diane Sesler

Board Member of Nashville Tree Conservation Corps

Our Deep Rooted Connection to Trees

 Our deep rooted connections we have with trees brings us closer to each other and the earth. We all have special trees in our life which makes us sigh with gratitude. Whispers of rustling leaves, the smell of tall pines, the visual beauty of cherry tree blooms are but a few cherished moments that make our heart happy. Memories of sitting under a tree offering you its shade while reading a book. Memories of your dad putting your swing on a strong oak tree branch. Memories of purple blooms on a Redbud signaling the arrival of spring. Memories of planting a tree in memory of a loved one. Memories of family picnics under a tree. Memories of gathering brilliantly colored maple leaves in the fall to press into a book. Trees give birds, squirrels, insects, and so many other creatures an ongoing natural cycle of death and rebirth. Their interconnection with all living beings is a normal process, but it feels magical. They feed our planet with oxygen and clean our air. Trees are deeply rooted into Mother Earth while reaching for the blue skies of Heaven. Trees deserve our respect.

A special tree, a Blue Atlas Cedar, has been calling its home in East Nashville by the Shelby Golf course pavilion for countless decades. March’s 2020 tornado created heart breaking devastation all around this tree. Many lost their homes and the destruction still leaves us speechless. I walked to the pavilion in tears. I walked toward this tree and memories came rushing back at me. Amid the chaos that neighbors were facing, someone took time to lovingly wrap the tree with a sign. “The Neighbors Request - Please Artfully Prune This Tree. Don’t Remove It. Thanks.”. This tree touched thousands and thousands of lives on a regular basis. The person who took the time to express his thankfulness speaks for all of us in honoring this giant who brought us joy. It stands proud and tall amid its broken limbs like an angel with broken wings. This is just not a tree. It is a symbol of survival and hope for our future. It reminds us of beauty we may not always see and take for granted. The tragedies sometimes make us refocus on what we must appreciate every day. May all of us continue to respect our ecosystem, cherish each other, and love our world.