Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #192: Earth Story Told Through Trees

Posted byDawn PalmerPosted inPhotosTags:, , , , , , , ,

Amy hosts Lens-Artists Photo Challenge (LAPC) this week, with the theme being Earth Story. I’m double-dipping and including Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge (CFFC): Earth. Most of my photos are centered around nature, earth, and how all of our ecosystems are interconnected, so when I saw Amy’s and Cee’s themes for this week, it resonated deeply with me.

Large oak tree at O’Neill Regional Park in southern California.

Living in California, I have seen plenty of fires–unfortunately. There’s been a lot of talk about droughts and climate change.

Destruction from recent fires in Angeles National Forest, near Los Angeles, California.

But yet, we have neighbors who love cutting down trees and plants, all in the name of saving water–at what cost? When I was a child, I remember so many stories about “saving the rain forest” in the Amazon. It seems we have diverted from this mantra, and it puzzles me. Trees and other plants help save our environment; they’re great oxygen emitters. If we had more trees, we could potentially lower carbon dioxide in our atmosphere (because the trees take in the carbon dioxide for their photosynthesis), which in turn would help lower temperatures and stave off extreme droughts.

Large canopy forest in Portola Redwood State Park, California.

The world’s largest trees include redwoods, which can live up to 2,000 years. They hold more carbon dioxide than any other tree and make their own “rain” after collecting fog through their leaves that reach sometimes higher than 300 feet into the sky.

Old growth in Portola Redwoods State Park, California.

Sadly, when I visited the redwood giants up in Northern California, fires had taken their toll and burned through more than 90 percent of the Big Basin grove. I was fortunate enough that I saw the Big Basin grove a few years ago, and then recently, I was able to visit another nearby redwood grove, Portola Redwoods State Park.

Redwoods stand tall prior to fires in Big Basin State Park, California.
Redwoods can be resilient, even after fire damage; Big Basin State Park, California.
Not all redwoods survive fires or other natural causes; Big Basin Redwood State Park, California–prior to the big fire.

Trees do more than just help with climate change. They provide shelter and food for other trees, plants, and animals.

Large nest supported by redwood branches up high; Portola Redwood State Park, California.
Young redwoods supporting other trees, moss, and plants; Portola Redwood State Park, California.
Very old redwood towers over smaller, younger redwoods that support other types of trees; Portola Redwood State Park.
Pine trees provide food for birds, like this woodpecker in Coconino National Forest, Arizona.

Trees also provide excellent framing for photos–just a bonus for me.

Some trees, such as this palm, have adapted their leaves to still collect carbon dioxide and moisture; Laguna Beach, California.

Trees are important to Earth. They’ve been around a lot longer than any of us. If we’re not careful, we are going to outlive one of nature’s most important resources.

Seeing the forest through the redwood tree; Portola Redwood State Park in northern California.

To learn more about redwoods, visit Save the Redwoods.

If you want to visit the redwoods, here is a link to Portola Redwoods State Park.

Check out some of my previous blogs about trees:

Published by Dawn Palmer

I am an avid nature and ecology lover and enjoy sharing my photography in my blog writings. I will often be out early in the morning or late in the evening with my camera, trying to capture the peacefulness and beauty around me.

25 thoughts on “Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #192: Earth Story Told Through Trees”

  1. These tree images are magnificent, Dawn! Yes, tree provide shelter and food for other trees, plants, and animals, many more for people. I love your take on. Thank you for sharing. 🙂

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      1. I am so glad you have taken trips to hike and enjoy the beauty of nature and understand how essential trees are to all living things. Your pictures capture the majesty of these trees even burned by fire. You are right to voice your concern about the diminishing Amazon, fires, and neighborhood trees. Their beauty, peacefulness, protection and food for animals, and ability to clean our air depends on man’s capability to preserve our towering friends.

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  4. Trees are my thing too. I live right by O’Neil Park and have many oaks. One is 400 years old. It’s crazy to think I live in this beautiful place and my neighbor wants to cut my trees. I’m lucky it’s illegal. The Redwoods are incredible to. My old go tos. You picked some great places.

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      2. I forgot about the flooding. I am sure it was scary with the fires. I definitely didn’t like being evacuated when I lived in Irvine. At my new home, I have 100 year old trees, but am not in a fire zone. 🙄

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  5. A beautiful choice for the week’s challenge Dawn. Our visit to the redwoods is one of the most magical moments of my life, honestly. It is so hard to depict their grandeur with images but you’ve done so very well. The fires are heart-breaking and we just keep disregarding the importance of these magnificent specimens – both large and small – around the world. Have you read The Overstory by Richard Powers? I suspect yes but if not it’s a must for any tree lover like you (or me🙂) Wonderful response!!

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    1. Thank you! 😊 These trees are magnificent. I don’t even want to know how bad the fires were in the Sequoias. ☹️ I haven’t read Overstory, but now I will check it out! Thanks! 🤓

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  6. I agree the trees are essential to our life and like you, when I wander through forests, I think how old they are. The redwoods are magnificent and I am glad you took time to showcase them along with your wise words. We have a return trip close to the fall that I look forward to. Very nice. A fellow tree hugger, Donna

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    1. Thank you! 😊 I am sure you will get some amazing tree photos on your trip! Portola Redwoods are beautiful but even further up north, the Redwoods are older and larger. I hope to make it up to them soon. 😎

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      1. Thank you. I will look that up. We will be traveling from Washington back to AZ. We already have our trip planned. I am wondering if The Portola area is on our route. Thank you again.

        Liked by 1 person

  8. Dear Friend Thank you for your kind and encouraging visit. Trees are my best friends too. Your photography is amazingly beautiful, grand and majestic. You are gifted. Wish you all success in your glorious endeavors.

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