I love this tree with its smooth, mottled 'skin.' When I was young I would have been up in this tree in a minute--it begs for a child to roost in it. Now it's my grandchildren and my characters who climb trees.
This one is a crape myrtle--or so we've been told. We've never been here when it blooms–we're usually up north then, where the climbing trees are the maples.
And where you are: any climbing trees? And did you climb when you were young (or old)?
There's a great hedge maple across the street that the kids on the block climb, but most of our trees are big Norway maples and silver maples that are impossible to climb. There are some fruit trees in public places throughout the city which my kids consider a great treat to climb.
ReplyDeleteI was immensely risk-averse and sedentary as a child and so never climbed a tree. :( Glad my children are not growing up the same way.
This would be a great tree to climb. No scratches on the way down! I climbed tree as a kid. I loved the peaceful feeling when I made it to my roosting spot. My kids climb trees around here, but are getting older and not as inclined to do so as they used to be.
ReplyDeleteWhile I was not a tree climber as a child, I have always loved trees. I have several favourites in our neighbourhood, that I admire when walking our dogs. My son loves climbing trees and there are a couple that he has to stop and climb when he accompanies me for walks, I am not sure what kind they would be, but they are young trees.
ReplyDeleteTree-climbing was never my thing as a little kid. I was one of those overly cautious types, alas! But I would love to try climbing one of these days. I would imagine that trees can afford quite a spectacular view! Or at the very least, a different and interesting change of perspective.
ReplyDeleteWhat sort of trees did you climb as a child?
My favorite tree was a gigantic willow that stretched out over the lake. We hung a rope and would swing out into the water.
ReplyDeleteAs a child I spent my summers in the apple tree in our back yard. When my daughters were growing up, they climbed, occasionally, into our mulberry tree, but the tree was so beloved for the fruit it bore that not even the children dared risk injuring it in any way, especially as the fruit developed. Of course once the fruit came ripe there was no climbing the tree because that juicy fruit would have made such a terrible mess of them.
ReplyDeleteThat truly is a beautiful tree. It looks so healthy and strong. It's definitely a climbing tree. I was a tomboy as a child and spent the majority of my time outdoors. I did a fair amount of creek wading, crawdaddy fishing and tree climbing.
ReplyDeletegrowing up in an apartment in the heart of the city i had to be content with climbing the electric pole in the building's courtyard.
ReplyDeletei was high up on the pole one day when someone opened the door and, having been warned by all the adult neighbors of the dangers of climbing that pole, i slid down quickly in terror of being "caught" - oh, the splinters!
Oddly, I'm terrified of heights now but used to climb wayyyy up into the trees when I was a kid--one scene in my current WIP is inspired by a particularly scary cedar-climb when I was thirteen. Our best climbing tree in the backyard did not survive the rerouting of underground water tables last summer when the city put in a new street out front; my two boys--both climbers--are heartbroken.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! I practically lived in trees when I was a kid...I had this apple tree in front of one house with the perfect little roosts...
ReplyDeleteI wanted to share a story with you:
This past weekend, I was visiting family several hours away and brought WALK TWO MOONS to read in the car. My 11-year-old cousin Joseph came up to me while we were visiting with his eyes all lit up and said, "Are you the one that brought Walk Two Moons! That's a really good book! I read it last year, and I really liked it. The characters were so real!"
I just thought you might like to hear that even your young male readership isn't fading yet! :) And thank you for being the inspiration for a wonderful literary conversation with my young cousin!
Sounds like fun to climb up trees :-)
ReplyDeleteSheeeesh! I would have been up this tree so fast with my hammer, nails and planking. Never met a good tree that didn't need a treehouse. hahahaha
ReplyDeleteYes, that is a crape myrtle, and thank you for not misspelling it. The trunk looks magnificent and I feel certain that you also have not done that horrible thing some people do to their crape myrtles which is pollarding them each year. We have gigantic live oak trees in our yard as well as pecan trees. I don't climb anymore but did so well into my 40's. To be honest, I miss it more than I can say.
ReplyDeleteThere's a tree in our allotment that I would climb as a child throughout the summer reveling in the sun and the freedom of it all.
ReplyDeleteWe would throw crab apples at our parents for points.
It almost looks like skin!
ReplyDeleteThis is adorable!
ReplyDeleteThe tree reminds me my childhood, as I grow up on a farm, I used to climb in a tree just like this one!
wow but today, I'm not so BRAVE anymore! hehehe
Cool memories!
Hugs
Léia