As an artist, I like to pick a theme for each year. It fuels my creative imagination and process to have a clear focus. For 2023, my theme was TREES. And I committed myself to learn about trees every day and do some kind of tree-inspired art every day. Wow, what a year it was (and continues to be as I’m still studying trees and will continue to do so for the rest of my life). When I started the year, I didn’t know much about trees at all. I live near Beacon Hill Park, so I started walking around and checking out some of the trees that have always fascinated me. I found an online map on the Friends of Beacon Hill Park website to help identify the trees. And I took a few inspiring Tree Tours through the City of Victoria. I also devoured books from the library in great abundance.
I learned that Beacon Hill Park is a heritage tree site, since many of its trees are over 100 years old. We even have some Garry Oak trees that may be over 500 years old. Because of our temperate climate so many trees from around the world are able to grow and thrive here. So, I discovered that walking around Beacon Hill Park is like taking a mini trip around the world.
The first tree that I learned about was the Giant Sequoia that’s across the street from the Children’s Farm in Beacon Hill Park. I’ve always loved this tree, seeing peacocks and children climbing its lower limbs, sunning themselves and posing for pictures. How exciting to learn that it’s native to California and this tree species dates back to the Triassic Period 200 million years ago when dinosaurs first appeared. I also learned that Giant Sequoias are the most massive beings on our planet (that’s its weight and height combined). And, they’re endangered with only about 70,000 of them left in old growth forests in California. They can live for thousands of years when they’re with their families. They have many healing benefits, including, the inner bark which helps to treat jaundice.
While I studied trees every day on my lunch breaks, I also was keeping up with my daily art practice. And since I was learning about how to identify trees, their histories, their healing properties and more, I started collecting their beautiful leaves and marveling at their details. Have you ever seen the underside of a sprig of Elkhorn Cedar from Japan (there are several in Beacon Hill Park) – so incredibly beautiful!!
I have been doing needlework since I was very young, so I found myself stitching the gorgeous tree leaves onto index cards. What an experience! Collecting majestic leaves from the ground, stitching them (each stitch releases heavenly scents – eucalyptus leaves are my favourite!) onto paper to preserve, record and revere them …. I was completely hooked! Sometimes I invited friends and we’d collect lovely leaves from the ground and stitch them while having a picnic in the park. Magical!
Studying trees has opened me up to a whole, new, wonderful world. Watching them change through the seasons and getting to marvel at their many gifts – gorgeous leaves, tiny berries, acorns, seedpods and more – such beauty and bliss! My life is forever changed and enriched by this experience. My theme for this year, 2024, is Trees and More (as I’m studying the animals, fungi and plants connected with the trees now. Fascinating!) This article was originally published in the James Bay Beacon in April 2024.
Comments