Monday, October 11, 2010

Can You Feel The Rhythm Of This Heartbeat?


Branching veins of life. Japanese maple, Norfolk Botanical Gardens
(Click picture to enlarge)
Posted by Picasa

"And see the peaceful trees extend
their myriad leaves in leisured dance-
they bear the weight of sky and cloud
upon the fountain of their veins."
~ Kathleen Raine, Envoi
My brother has fallen in love with the Japanese Maple tree. Never mind that there are hundreds of different varieties with vast differences in shapes, sizes, growth rates, leaf configurations and colors... he loves them all. We have a large variety "Fireglow" that he just put in the yard this summer and a smaller weeping maple with thin intricate branching leaves that is growing in a huge container on the patio. There were at least two others that he "almost" got while he was here in July and August.

This specimen is my personal favorite and is in the Japanese Garden at our local botanical garden. It is large and old and forms a huge canopy that one can sit under. Its branches are gnarled and wandering, the leaves deeply and delicately branched and it retains a stunning deep red and orange color throughout the spring, summer and fall. The sun glows through the leafy layers, enhancing the dark trunks until they almost throb with the flowing water and life giving minerals. Sometimes it seems as if I could reach out and actually feel the pulsing of the branches, grasping them as I would a wrist and marking out the rhythm of a heartbeat. I never tire of viewing these trees from this perspective.

(end of post)
Carmi's Theme ~ "Branched"
Ruby Tuesday

16 comments:

Beverly said...

Beautiful.  It has become one of my favorites too.  David has one in his yard, and it is small enough for Ella to climb.  She does love it.  She is doing better thanks to prayers and prednisone.

sandra said...

i would love to stand and look up with you. this is beautiful. i love sillouttes of anything and since i have a passion for trees, this one is specail to me. gorgous flower down below. i am playing catch up after my 3 days off.

Kramer said...

We won't see "fall colors" until, like, maybe next year... at this rate, anyway. Thanks!

Liz said...

Fantastic shot!

My Ruby Tuesday links:
Moms... Check Nyo
Yummy-as-can-be

Rose said...

Gorgeous!

http://www.spice-up-your-life.net/2010/10/salute-for-those-who-serve.html

Ginny Hartzler said...

I LOVE this picture and the way you captured the branches!! Awhile ago, I did a post on Japanese Maples, we maybe weren't following each other at the time. i just love them; all so different. But my pictures focused on the leaves, while yours focuses on those amazing branches! Isn't it wonderful how people can look at the same thing, and see different things?

Karen Sather said...

Marvelous, and what a great place to surround yourself in quiet beauty!

Krista said...

Wow! What a great shot, of a beautiful tree. :) Thanks for sharing it with us!

Eileen said...

Wow, what a gorgeous image! Happy Ruby Tuesday!

kenju said...

I would never tire of it either. I love old, gnarled trees like this. I surely does remind me of veins and arteries!

RamblingWoods said...

I was out on the lawn taking photos of fall leaves and standing under our japanese maple looking at the beautiful leaves......Michelle

colleen said...

Stunning.  I can feel the shiver of their shaking in the breeze. 
http://looseleafnoets.com

eastcoastlife said...

What a stunning picture! I would love having breakfast sitting under that canopy.

sandra said...

I can't tell you how many times my hubby has told me i am "mule headed" now it will be "donkey" headed. and he is right for once in his life. he knows not to try to MAKE me do anything, i put my head down just like skeeter

Limar said...

Absolutely fantastic! :)

MMP said...

O MY GOOD GRIEF I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!

(sorry....... tiptoeing quietly away....)