Back to the woods this morning.  The light was beautiful and called me to this elegant tree.

A wise and kind tree-face looked out.

And offered a soft place for my heart to rest.

On the way back a lovely Canada lily-lady was hanging out.  Let the light lead your way. Trust the beauty in your soul to find its way through the tangle of life.  💚 Peace

A backyard tree-hug this morning.  The hot weather kept me home and I got a chance to meet a yard tree I never paid much attention to.  A real beauty.  Contentment is finding peace and beauty in your own backyard. 💚 Peace 

There were some handsome tree-folk present in this mighty-one.

Nearby a bouquet-bloom of bursting summer-yellowness.

And I don't want to leave out the windmilled mushroom-flower barely noticed on the trail.  Experience the fun, beauty, uniqueness, truth, purpose, and place of all the woodland entities.  💚 Peace

This morning's tree-hug.  Graceful dancing-trunks above.

Cozy trunk-buddies below.

And a soulful-eyed much weathered tree-being with a curious look.  There is so much to see when you open your heart to a tree-friend. 💚 Peace

Wow!  A picture of my tree-hug this morning. Tree-song and celebration. Welcome back to the woods, Stanley! 💚Still no weight-bearing, but he's getting good enough on those crutches for a short meander down the road.  Visit your tree-friends.  Step into the healing-forest world.  💚 Peace

Yesterday morning's tree-hug was a special woodland gathering. A mature chestnut oak,  a young sugar maple, an ancient-rock wall, and li'l ol' me.  We can all get along.  💚 Peace

A mighty tree-hug this morning.

A joining of two great tree-beings.

The view from the center unique.

While on the trail a shadow-sign of direction.  Follow your heart.  It will lead you to your center of balance, strength and love.  💚 Peace

Great tree-sentinels met me along the trail this morning.  Keepers of the woodland realm.  

While further down the way a cautious shelled-traveler waited for me to pass.

After I marveled a bit over its intricately carved patterns and bold color-statements. Step into the heart of nature and  be freed. 💚 Peace

A mossy rainy-day at home tree-hug. 

In the presence of simple perfection.

Thank you nature for the rain and surrounding us in your love, light and beauty.  💚  Peace

A quiet walk in the woods this morning.  Our beautiful trees dressed in their leafy-finest.  How miraculous their gift to us of oxygen as they feed themselves through photosynthesis.

Though we may see nothing but their standing-stillness they are hard at work.  I read that two mature trees can supply enough oxygen in one year for a family of four.

They are also home to many a creature, including this multi-legged one (if you can find him.)

And nearby divinely-purple crown vetch stood amidst the healing-green light.  With heartfelt appreciation, remember the gift of life you breathe from our tree-friends.  Respect the earth.  💚 Peace

A deep-woods way off-trail tree hug this morning.  There is something about being immersed in the woods that is cleansing.  Restorative.  And balancing.  💚 Peace

I found an old tree-friend in the woods this morning.  It was one of those 'I know you' moments.

A beautifully expressive tree.

Home to many interesting tree-beings.

Especially this cute little gnarly-wood guy.  ​Tree-hugging is opening your arms, heart and mind to nature's ever present wisdom and love.  💚 Peace

An emotional tree-hug today.  It was my mother's birthday.  She would have been 93.  Sadly she passed when she was only 52.  It feels like a lifetime ago for me.

An unusual bark-being with a spiderweb-eye reminded me of impermanence.

And the tree's expanding lenticel-rings a testimony to inner-growth through time.

I found this wonderful chunky-barked tree-friend on our property today.  I think it's a chestnut oak.  

She seemed glad I finally got around to meeting her.

And my first tiger-lily has blossomed like a magical orange-bird dancing through the light.  Peace is ever present.  Rather than make peace, perhaps we are meant to just allow it to be. 💚  Peace

I walk by this tree a lot but  sadly it will only get a virtual tree-hug from me.

There is poison ivy vining up it and growing all around it.

Finding this interesting tree-couple made me think maybe this winter I'll venture an actual hug.

Sometimes it's best to stay on the well-worn path.  💚 Peace

A most strong and sensitive tree off the trail this morning.  From what I've seen this past 15 months it seems that most trees have evidence of wounds and healing.  Perhaps they are showing us how normal that experience is.  A basic part of life.  As I learn from the trees I have become more accepting of the less than perfect.  More aware of the beauty that comes through struggles and healing. And about strength that resides deep within.  💚  Peace

I visited with a yard-tree this morning between the rain showers.  A friendly eastern red cedar-friend.  ​

Just so you know, it is actually a juniper.

Many Native American cultures believe the smoke of this tree will expel evil spirits before conducting a ceremony, such as a healing.  ​

Animals use the bark shreds in building their nests because the aromatic oils repel insects.   We are immersed in the wonders of nature.  We too are wonders. 💚 Peace

A special tree-hug this morning.

I was greeted by a fantastical bark-horse being.

And drawn into a green-glowing cave of healing light.

Healing isn't always pretty.  Be strong.  Let your heart speak.  💚 Peace

A magnificent Sycamore tree-hug today in my front yard.  

As a tree grows its bark must adapt to the trunk expanding.  Some barks stretch, some split.  The Sycamore bark sloughs off the older bark.  

In the garden bright-topped stamens danced in a fuzzy purple clouds.  

Exquisite dahlia perfection.  Love.

And me on the Cub Cadet.  My new chore, mowing the lawn.  It was fun once I got the hang of it!  Be like a tree - adapt.  Find the perfection in your own unique being.  💚  Peace

This morning I visited one of my favorite woodland-trees.  

A handsome pin-striped oak-charmer.

With a generous and peaceful nature.

We are lucky to have several eastern white pines on our property.  I visited them today to honor their status as Trees of Peace.

From Wikipedia: The roots of the Tree of Peace stretch in all directions.  Called the Great Roots of Peace, they lead those who wish peace back to the source to take shelter.

The Great Peace included "the Good Word which is righteousness in action, bringing justice for all.

Health, which is  a sound mind in a sound body, bringing peace on Earth.

Power, which is the establishment of civil authority, bringing with it the increase in spiritual power in keeping with the will of the Master of Life." The bundle of five needles became the symbol of the Five Nations joined together as one.  I will look at the eastern white pine quite differently now.  💚 Peace

Back in the woods this morning.  A great eastern white pine tree-hug.

I felt this tree had many lessons about putting energy where it is needed the most.  Letting go of the past.  

Rays of sunshine appeared to brighten the moment.  Life continues.  ​

And a joyous singing wood-being lifted my spirits too. The wisdom of nature is timeless.  Present throughout time for all that choose to listen.  💚  Peace

When I googled eastern white pine I learned it is called the Tree of Peace by the Iroquois, League of Five Nations. Weapons were buried under this tree to seal peace agreements. After reading this I remembered the story and the necklace I purchased around 30 years ago at a festival near Rochester, NY.  It represents the Tree of Peace with the weapons buried beneath.  A stitch in time moment.  I will be thinking on this symbol for a while...

An in-the-yard tree-hug this very hot and humid morning.

I feel blessed to live with this towering locust beauty. 

As does this extravagantly draped eggplant flower. 

And these elegant tomato miracles.

Then a hand-of-God flower-batique was revealed in the most deliciously fragrant flower around.   Wherever you may be, step into nature and arrive.  💚 Peace

I met a fine new tree-friend off the trail this morning.

He came into life adjacent to some ancient uplifted deep earth-beings.

There was a strong primeval feeling on this hillside.

A cat-rock its head entangled in vine looked out at me.

Around the trunk a most unusual tree-arm.

Light-blessings showered down.

On this pure expression of miraculous balance and tranquility.  Nature feeds us in more ways than we can imagine.  Keep imagining.  💚 Peace

No woods today.  I invited Perseus (the cat) to join me in the backyard for a tree-hug ... hint, wet food was involved.😉

This special tree-friend has kept an eye out for our family for over 30 years.

A world in itself growing and evolving as we have.  Getting close to nature is getting close to your true being.  You don't have to travel far.  💚 Peace

Some beauties from my garden.