Tilting trees in the autumn wind

As the leaves don their autumn hues, the forest near our home begins its quiet transformation. It's a time of beauty, but also one of caution—especially when the winds pick up and the trees start to sway a little more than usual.

October rains soak the soil, loosening the trees' grip on the earth. It's during these wet, blustery days that the trees along our roadways might lean into an unexpected bow. It's a natural occurrence, albeit a jarring reminder of nature's power.

The roadside guardians, those that face the open air, often bear the wind's first kiss. When they fall, they remind us of the delicate balance between standing tall and yielding to the forces around us.

But not every lean is a fall, and not every fall is final. Sometimes, it's just a nudge, a tree's temporary recline against the softened earth, waiting for a chance to rise again. We tell our children to respect these giants, to avoid the upturned roots and hollows that speak of the forest's ever-changing face. Suddenly the tilted tree stands upright again, and the hole is closed!

Here, everyone is part of the woodland's upkeep. When trees block our way, we come together, chainsaws ready, to clear a path. It's part of living here, a communal nod to the rhythms of the forest.

These are some of our latest encounters: trees that once reached for the sky now cross our paths, inviting us to pause, reflect, and then carry on.