PLANTS WITH PURPOSE

Part 6: Trees

- Carol Klein

Planting a tree is an act of faith. We may be planting something that will outlive us. Certainly, at my age, any tree that I plant had better outlive me!

Trees are the most important plants in the world. Without them, none of us would be here; they are the lungs of our planet, helping to turn carbon dioxide into oxygen that we can breathe. It is easy to take them for granted and the further away our daily lives move from the natural world, the easier it is to forget their vital importance.

In ancient civilizations and still in cultures all around the world, trees are highly regarded, not only for their usefulness, be it environmental or economic, but just as much for the aesthetic and spiritual qualities associated with them. Trees are particularly valued for their longevity, the fact that they continue to grow for years and years, getting bigger and better as they mature. They're the nearest thing to perpetuity in our gardens. Even one tree gives a sense of permanence.

Most of the trees in our temperate climate are deciduous: they spend roughly six months clothed in leaves and six with bare branches. In spring, their leaves unfurl, translucent and brilliant green, new and fresh with the promise of what the year will bring. This is surely the time when they're most noticed. Each species has its particular shade of green, subtly different from its neighbours.