Second Look: A Grand Burr Oak

The top photo of the Burr Oak links to its' earlier, winter photo.

Safely home and grateful that the long drive went well, despite another full day of rain. So the good side of these rainy days is that some of the autumn color photos are just lovely (I think) and I have a few days' worth to share here.

First up, the grand burr oak that I was introduced to by my friend Steve back in February. It's worth repeating that this tree is probably 350 years old and it truly is just amazing in size and shape. The land around it is all agricultural mixed with some wooded bluffs since it is a part of the Missouri River bottom area. I had to wade through some mud to get a good angle on this beauty, which was bare the last time I viewed it. (I linked the top photo to the winter view.)

The mists and rain were thick and steady which did take the edge off of the colors in this particular series of photos. I find this tree quite wonderful for contemplation because within the time span of this tree's life is the whole history of our country...and earlier! A cursory look at Wikipedia tonight suggests that the colonies were beginning to take shape even as this tree was beginning its' life. So to think about what came to pass over the next three and a half centuries helps me to put things into a better, more healthy perspective.

Thank you to everyone who has left lovely notes and messages here over the past few days. All of your missives were truly appreciated.

Traveling and Thinking

My crankiness about the yard invaders was probably misplaced fear and anxiety. I was preparing for my week long visit to my friends, the Spradlins, in Ashland, Missouri. It was an amazing trip on levels I'm still trying to process. Ann Spradlin has been my girlfriend since the first grade (she thinks it was kindergarten...frankly, we aren't sure.) At any rate, we've known each other most of our lives, and have remained in contact, even after we both fled Woodstock in our teens. She's terminally ill and I became determined to visit even though I'm not a huge fan of car trips, especially alone in the dead of winter. But my first stop was Rockford where I got a rental, so at least worrying about breakdowns could be ticked off my anxiety list. (Excellent idea as my truck was towed to a repair shop even as I was preparing for my trip.)

Illinois is a very "tall" state in that I live way up north, nearly in Wisconsin....Missouri is west of its southern end. It's a long drive but with Dakota's reminders (yes, I took the dog) we got out and stretched on a regular schedule.

Ann's husband, Steve, insisted that we go into tourist mode and do some sight seeing and gallery hopping in the area. What a wonderful environment all along the Missouri river and then the urban area of Columbia, MO, with its colleges and vibrant youth culture. Very nice contrasts of old, antique villages and architecture, vineyards and back roads with a thriving city.

So what's with the acorn? This is last year's fruit from a burr oak. Not just any burr oak, but a tree calculated to be about 450 years old, still standing proud. It's on private land growing between a country road and an agricultural field. Its size and shape are magnificent.

Truthfully, it's easier to think about an ancient tree right now than to find the thoughts and words to deal with my fifty plus years of knowing Ann. I trust than in due time I'll find words--or more likely, forms and images--to explain all my insights and feelings. It just takes time and patience.