June 29, 2012

Four Seasons Of A Tree.

Perhaps some of you recall my fascination with a beautiful silver birch, which I could watch outside the windows of my old house.
I documented its changes over the course of a year in pictures and found the reward for watching a tree during the various seasons to be priceless.

Little did I know then that the tree would be cut down by my neighbours a few years later, to my shock and disbelief. Thus my photography is all that remains as a testimony to its existence...

Therefore I was thrilled to find a birch in the front garden of my new home and have likewise captured its changes throughout the past summer and autumn, from green to bare.
This spring I returned with camera in hand to document its awakening and the results can be seen in the pictures below, including a shot I took in winter as well, concluding its yearly cycle.

I love to watch the swaying of its branches outside our kitchen window. This birch can not match the beauty of the one I used to feast my eyes on in my former home. Yet it is ours and as long as we live here, it is safe. Its presence grants me the privilege to follow the natural transformations throughout the seasons, as they pass my views with uncanny precision and reassurance.

(Please click images for a larger view) 






















22 comments:

Rahul Bhatia said...

For a lover of nature there could be no better reward than see the changes as beautifully captured by you, Zuzana:)

Unknown said...

Hi, Zuzana: I'm glad to read that another tree is growing! You sound great and I send you hugs and smiles! :)

S. Susan Deborah said...

Glad that another birch has arrived in Zuzana's life. Now we can look forward to the various stages in this new Birch's life.

Glad to read this post today morning.

Joy always,
Susan

Cro Magnon said...

That's a great idea. And well done for keeping each shot exactly the same!

Some years ago I sold a family home in England and the new owner took out a whole 44 tree fruit orchard. I was SHOCKED.

Birdie said...

How lovely that you have found another tree to love. I have a birch outside my window that I have grown to love. I even named her Brianna.

Elizabeth said...

You are a birch-tree girl.

Enjoy your day!!!!

Maggi said...

I'm glad that you have found another silver birch. I love the gentleness of these trees.

Julie Hibbard said...

I think that I have always been fascinated with the faithfulness of seasonal changes. Knowing that there is NOTHING there and it looks as though it is almost dead at some point...there will come a time when those little buds appear again...and there is life again.
Oh, so much like our own lives.
Happy weekend sweet lady!

Brian Miller said...

nice...i def love to see the progression of life in a tree...as it def mirrors the progressions in our own life...i am sorry for the loss of your tree as well...that saddens me a bit...i hope you have a wonderful weekend zu...

emailed you the answer to your question

Kath said...

I love the 4 seasons tree pics, what a great idea for a quilt!

Sia Jane said...

You are so wonderfully and refreshingly inspiring <3

Rajesh said...

It is nice to know that he found one more silver birch. It will be soon as good as your old birch.

Hilary said...

It's a lovely tree. It kind of looks like it's leaning up against a bar, having a drink and a chat. ;)

Myrna R. said...

Nice Zuzana. It's delightful how you document the passing of time, for a tree, for nature, for us. It's nice too that your tree is safe.

sprinkles said...

You know, I wouldn't have thought that I would enjoy watching the progression of a tree. But I actually did!

Thank you for your sweet email, I really appreciated it.

Anonymous said...

Your birch tree has great character. I like the way it leans. It reminds me of the phrase "bend without breaking". It is a sign of strength.

bright star said...

Lovely post,birch trees are so beautiful and you must have felt you had lost friend when that person chopped your tree down.Still you have another and I did like Kath's comment about making a quilt inspired by your through the seasons photos. love Angela

Ash said...

Wow, that's so beautifully documented, Zuzana! Great work and it's such a pleasure to look at.

Amanda Summer said...

you are a true cancerian, zuzana - the silver birch seems like a cancerian tree and you have captured it in all its seasonal glories.

a very happy july 1st to you today, dear zuzana - and best wishes for a birthday that i imagine is very soon!

with love,

amanda
xoxo

SandyCarlson said...

Let's hear it for the birch, which leads the way for our seasons. A beautiful, graceful tree.

Carol Lee said...

Indeed your pictures exactly tell the seasons that the tree had endured. Strong tree i should say.

Ed Butowsky

A Lady's Life said...

I love birch trees. Just this week end I found a sliver of birch and it reminded me of the indians which knew how to make clothing out of tree bark. This piece curled so nicely I was able to make a bracelet out of it. Writing on it was a different story but since you have one such tree, try finding mushrooms under it in the fall.
xoxoxoxoxxo