Trees Glorious Trees

There is something about the constancy of trees that I admire. Their towering longevity and inherent grace always gains my respect. Yes, trees are one of my favorites from Mother Nature’s collection. And the fact that they allow me to breathe just completes the perfection of their design.

The process of photosynthesis always used to bore me in science class. It was one of those school facts that had little relevance to my life. Now I realize what the teachers were trying to get me to understand. My life depends on those tree related processes, now more than ever.

In case you too blocked it out in school, photosynthesis is the means in which a tree, plant or any green thing lives. The chlorophyll in the leaves (the green tone we see) soaks up water and carbon dioxide in the air. This absorbed energy is utilized in processing the minerals taken in by the roots to help nourish the tree. After the process is complete, trees release oxygen and water back into the atmosphere.

So, essentially, we breathe in tree waste. We are dependent upon trees for our lives.

Sure, there is natural oxygen in the atmosphere making up about 20 percent of the gases but without the constant replenishment from tree waste, the chemical composition of the air would begin to change drastically. And with the ever increasing carbon emissions adding to the temperature of the planet i.e. global warming, it’s all the trees can do to keep up.

A single medium sized tree provides enough oxygen for one human to breathe in ideal circumstances.

So with carbon, pollution, toxins and goodness knows what else in the air, the situation is far from ideal. And what about all our furry friends? They too require oxygen to breathe. And our fishy friends? Water plants release oxygen into the water which allows them to breathe. We need trees for our continued planetary existence.

And of course, to offset all this bleeping carbon.

The connection between people and trees isn’t some throwback from the sixties or belong to people with flowers in their hair and sandals on their feet. That connection is foundational to everything and everyone.

You might not have an urge to go out and hug a tree after reading this but you might consider a little internal nod to the grand design.

Yes, for me, it’s definitely a case of trees, glorious trees.