On woodland paths, far from their originating trunks, the roots of trees meander above the ground, seeking out nourishment. At this time of year, with fallen leaves covering them, I must be careful where I put my feet so as not to trip over them; sometimes a root will rise many feet from a tree, giving no hint of its presence.
Their worn surfaces speak of many years above ground, with outer bark revealing inner layers....
or as a home for mosses.
Sometimes erosion reveals roots normally left hidden, showing complex structures, thick and thin.
What most surprises me is how some trees seem to have legs, ready to stride away, as their trunks split or their roots appear above the eroded soil.
This young birch bravely grew on a mound of earth, the root ball of a fallen tree. As the soil was washed away, these expressive roots have been exposed, a testament to life's tenacity.
As another illustration of the persistence of life, new branches rise from this root of a beech tree, a burst of invention waiting for the rebirth of spring.
Hi Altoon -- How beautiful! Roots are mostly a mystery, aren't they? There's a reason yellow birches often have these root-tents. The seeds, which the birches shed by the millions some years, can only sprout in the sun, on bare ground or on the surface of a rotting stump or a rock. They don't make it in the leaf litter. If they grow on a stump, the stump will rot out and leave that magical enclosed space. Your example above on the root ball is spectacular!
ReplyDeletethanks, Susan, I'm glad you enjoyed these images. And thanks for the explanation of those above-ground roots.
DeleteI enjoyed these, but not so literally...always think their mystical properties are signaling something.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Julie, that these are rich with metaphor and magic.
DeleteFunny that you should post this today. I was out walking with a friend and we were noting similar roots. They are inspirational. Just hang in there.
ReplyDelete