Birch Trees

i live where there is an over-abundance of Birch trees. i love all trees probably because i grew up in the mountains of Montana, and really am partial to the evergreens...but have lived in Alaska for over 25 years and have come to love the Birch. In the summer, they are covered in nice green leaves and in the fall these leaves turn beautiful shades of gold.  then in the winter.... they drop their leaves and appear to be sticks rising out of the snow. When we get a snow storm these "sticks" are covered with snow and are so terribly beautiful!!

In the fall when there are no leaves on the trees and the wind blows, the trees "talk" to each other and all who will listen as they bend and sway against each other. i absolutely love this "talking"....it is both haunting in it's "hugeness" and soothing
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Birch trees on our property against a winter sky before the snowstorm.

We have about two acres of land and our property is completely covered with birch trees (and a few others) except for the area around the house and the driveway, it is so beautiful!!! They stand like guards around us, protecting us, and providing homes for numerous birds. They are as beautiful against a drab gray sky as they are against a bright blue sky.

Our home is two-storys with the living space mostly upstairs. we only have windows across one side and then one on each end. The windows are large so we can see the view outside year around. We see the trees on their sojourn through the year and the change is always breathtaking and lovely.

As i stand in our driveway feeling a breeze blow against me and gently moving my hair, i close my eyes and listen to the Birch....singing their song, telling their stories, and communicating with each other. we live around trees and birds and other animals all the time. do we take time to LISTEN to them? do we understand all that Mother Earth has for us to enjoy? Living in the country gives us more opportunity than those who live in the city, but there is still opportunity if you will just take the time. i imagine even the sounds of the city have a certain "music"...and if you stand in your yard and close your eyes and just listen....even for 10 minutes...in all that sound you will hear the sounds of nature...calling to you to not forget about them, calling to you to remember Mother Earth and all her grandure.

It is my earnest desire that we will all remember to REALLY listen to our surroundings. it really can be very beautiful and enlighening.

Have a day filled with the sounds of Mother Earth!
janie

Snowfall from yesterday on the trees in our driveway.

A neighbor's "domesticated" tree covered in white.

The snow-covered trees along our driveway.