Title Logo: Bits & Pieces in blue with a swish line under the words

“I think that I will never see
A poem lovely as a tree.”

I’m crazy about trees. Always have been. As a child, I held a fascination for their strong limbs and green leaves. High above, you can hide from the world. I think I could use a sturdy tree.

I can’t explain the mystical aura that surrounds the branches reaching out to touch the sky. This nerdy child memorized Joyce Kilmer’s poem, “Trees,” where the beauty and majesty of trees outweigh the well-chosen words of any poet.

Did you know?

The people of Madagascar consider the iconic baobab trees sacred. They believe the spirits of their ancestors live in the forests.

Trees provide more than beauty. They clean the air by absorbing carbon dioxide. Natural filters, trees, can absorb odors and pollutant gases.

The bark of some willows contains salicin, a chemical similar to aspirin. In the time of Hippocrates, people chewed the bark to relieve pain.

A wooden swing set with a seating swing, shaded by lush trees and surrounded by green grass under a clear blue sky.

Near the lake behind our home, we have a black willow that stretches wide. The limbs and leaves flow gently in the breeze and protect a wooden swing from the evening’s setting sun. We call it the conversation tree.

I think our willow tree exudes healing and keeps our conversations safe and secret.

Do you have a favorite tree?

Growing up, I climbed into the arms of a huge fig tree with two large branches. I stayed there as long as I could without anyone knowing. My imagination took flight, soaring with stories and all manner of marvelous adventures. I wanted to stay hidden forever.

Sunlight filters through pine branches, reflecting on a still lake surrounded by lush green grass and trees in the distance.

Hidden in the Tree
©️ Kathryn LeRoy

She sat in the tree
miles above the ground
or so it seemed to be.

Birds fly ‘round on high
wondering who came
and her giving a sigh.

You can’t see the girl
looking down below
as leaves fall in a swirl.

Her heart flies away
gliding in the wind
clutching the branch so tight.

Song for the Trees

Breathe

“Trees exhale for us so that we can inhale them to stay alive. Can we ever forget that?
Let us love trees with every breath we take until we perish.”
― Munia Khan

And always—

Be kind. Be brave. Be you.

A close-up of a ground covered with a dense layer of brown and orange autumn leaves, creating a textured, earthy pattern.

All Photos by Kathryn LeRoy
“Majestic”
“Conversation Tree”
“Looking Through the Pines”
“Natural Abstraction”