One of the first pieces of art that caught my eye was Tom Thomson’s “Jack Pine“. Ever since then, I have been fascinated by these large growing organisms, especially the deciduous trees that have a cycle of life not unlike hibernation. They are reborn every spring and appear to die every fall. They grow to majestic heights, and can take up vast amounts of space above ground and underground.

They hibernate, like bears; they have pollen, like flowers; they can be hard, like rocks. Again, living in Canada, we sometime forget the critical role that trees play in our economy: they provide the material for our homes, they provide the oxygen for us to breathe, and structurally, they shelter us. Trees provide much needed shelter from the winds, turning dustbowl plains into arable farmland. They prevent erosion, saving the coastline in areas that would otherwise wash away with the endless current of the rivers.

I should note that a well-managed forest is critical. Natural forest fires consume vast areas of forest every year in Canada, and every summer, many an enterprising student heads out with saplings. I know of a man who is a legend in this field. It is said that he could plant a sapling in granite with his angry fist.