Actually two.
I’ve chosen a tree to follow, actually two—a pair growing next to the building that houses the Department of Visual & Literary Arts at the University of Wyoming. They were planted on the order of seven years ago according to an art professor (medium oil) whom I met during my recent visit.
What kind of trees are they? I don’t know. It will be fun to figure this out as leaves, flowers and fruit appear.
They're small trees, with sturdy trunks and limbs, intricately branched canopies, and attractive mottled bark. I suppose they're an ornamental cultivar. In keeping with the style of older buildings on campus, the wall behind the trees is covered with sandstone. These aren’t full blocks. They might be split-face stones fabricated from quarried pieces … except that there’s a suspicious uniformity about them.
Another mystery.
The art building offers opportunities for photography in the abstract, which I enjoy. It encourages creativity and concentration … compose, shoot, compose, shoot … pretty soon the rest of the world disappears.Probably the inhabitants of this building won’t think it odd that I visit these trees monthly, photographing them and their surroundings from various heights and angles. Maybe they will think I’m just another art student. In a shady corner behind the trees, I found a castle! Do fairies live here? This time of year it’s hard to say. Probably they go south for the winter. Or do Wyoming fairies hibernate? Maybe they’re cold-tolerant … so much to learn!We tree-followers visit our chosen subject once a month, and share news, photos and thoughts at virtual gatherings kindly hosted by The Squirrelbasket. More information here, including how to join in the fun.
