Washington DC is a forest. I take for granted how many trees there are here, how much green can accumulate overhead during the course of our swampy summers in this city in which no building can be taller than the Capitol.
When autumn arrives, the leaves change color. Then they fall. And fall, and fall ... and ... fall, tracing in their own way the downward, inward flowing energy of this time of year. Streets that are cool and dark in deep shade all summer long, like 10th Street between Mass Avenue and Constitution, or 8th Street between Independence and C Street, are suddenly flooded with the pale sunlight of winter.
I love the open sky of winter, love looking once again at sights that were hidden all summer. No matter how much I might complain about the cold, about Brother Wind, the early sunsets, no matter how much I whine about the inevitable hours spent sweeping up the thick layer of fallen leaves around the house on Tennessee Avenue, I do love the quiet, open, graceful season of winter. I really do.
7 comments:
Three quarters of the year we have lush trees around us. One quarter of the year, we don't. I always feel like the neighbors have moved 20 feet closer to us at that point. We have no veil.
Nice too take a walk around your neighborhood. And to know that trees are thriving in the future Jurassic. Love the hand of fate stretching across the street.
me too - and when the bare trees look like black lace against the pale sky. so beautiful. enjoy. xV
The hand of fate? Cool!!
Yes Val, I love the filigree of sky behind the empty branches yes!!
Lachochran, when I lived in Takoma Park it felt like that. Here on the Hill we live on top of each other all the time, underneath the sky in winter, the canopy in summer.
Me, too. Winter is my second favorite, next to fall. I actually enjoy the crisp cold temps.
Nice slide show!!
Our change of season is more subtle. The grass browns and some trees lose their leaves, but not many. The best is the relief from the heat.
Thank you for the dance of the tree. I watched it several times. Just beautiful.
Post a Comment