Tree Mapping
“You are doing TREE-mendous work!”
That’s what a neighbor said to us today when he and his dog passed us in the park where Huck, Rilla, and I were using printouts of the Portland Tree Map to identify the blossom-laden trees we’ve been swooning over these past couple of weeks. Does your area have one of these?
I mean, this is just heaven on a web page as far as I’m concerned. Whenever I move to a new part of the country I have a burning need to learn the names of All The Things as soon as possible. I’m a little slow out of the gate this time around, but then again I wasn’t exactly up for long leisurely walks last summer or fall. I was scrolling back through my Instagram the other day and came across a caption from October in which I talked about how happy I was to finally be able to take a walk around the block again. These days I’m averaging almost four miles a day—because spring.
“Children should be made early intimate with the trees, too; should pick out half a dozen trees, oak, elm, ash, beech, in their winter nakedness, and take these to be their year-long friends” (Charlotte Mason, Home Education, p. 52).
Happy First Day of Spring, my friends!
Penelope says:
Hooray for trees, and walks with children, and hope in the springtime … 🙂
On March 20, 2018 at 4:39 pm
sarah says:
A tree map–I didn’t even know such wonderful things as this existed. My initial search fro Ch’ville did not bring a tree map, but there are several groups in the area devoted to maintaining and promoting a healthy tree canopy. Maybe there’s a tree map lurking amongst them!
On March 21, 2018 at 4:11 am
Susanne Barrett says:
Lovely!!!! I adore trees, but it remains too cold for many up here in Pine Valley, despite being in San Diego County. Our Pippin tree shows no signs of budding yet, but our Jeffrey pines (with their deliciously sweet vanilla-scented bark) are still dropping the occasional cone (which make splendid fire starters since we heat our home exclusively with the wood stove insert in our stone fireplace). My daffodils are blooming, and my purple bearded irises are definitely considering budding. With Easter so early and winter so cold this year, we probably won’t have mountain lilacs blooming by Easter as usual; I love having my Easter dinner table overflowing with the delicate purple and white blooms. I have one lone purple pansy that survived the winter in a clay pot on our front steps, and it’s blooming its sweet little heart out. I always have to break out in e.e. cummings’ poetry in spring, with all his “mid-luscious”-ness and “puddle-wonderful”-ity.
Happy spring in your new city!!
Warmly,
Susanne 🙂
On March 21, 2018 at 8:53 am
Penny says:
I am totally going to look for one of these for my area. Thank you for the tip.
And… four miles. So much to love about that accomplishment! 🙂
On March 21, 2018 at 9:28 am
Anne says:
We don’t have anything like that, but I sure wish we did!!! We’re in a new house right now and everything popping up is brand new to us and it’s so gratifying to name it all.
On March 21, 2018 at 9:37 am
Bobbie Herron says:
Four miles a day lately! Yes, I am ready for spring as well, but I will settle for a break in the frozen precip. I never heard of Tree Mapping, but what a good idea, I will check it out. Thanks for the gorgeous photos, very uplifting 🙂
On March 21, 2018 at 11:43 am
tee+d says:
We have a map of landmark trees in various neighborhoods, but nothing like this. Portland, as usual, wins. I discovered the most beautiful flowering trees there, and people on the street were just more than happy to tell me what they were when I approached them in wonder. It was funny, I’d say, “Ooooh!” and five dog-walkers would be like, “Oh, yeah, redbud…”
Ah, Portland.
On March 21, 2018 at 12:59 pm
Megan Lowry says:
we are literally swimming in pollen here in texas. tree maps sound like a totally portland thimg. lucky you. however, producing a tree map for our neighborhood sounds like the perfect job for my kids 😉
On March 22, 2018 at 3:27 pm
Melanie Bettinelli says:
What a delicious map!
On April 17, 2018 at 1:58 pm