The Love Tree

Our tree is taking shape, thanks to all the children who have added papier mache' to its emerging bark.  We had to really rub the gluey paper onto the trunk in order to smooth it down and get it to adhere properly.  As we did a few children said, "We love you tree!" as they lovingly rubbed the bark.  This action took off and soon most of the children could be heard loving the tree into life.

When we were done I asked, "What should we call our tree?" and they suggested "Love Tree."  So that is what it has become, our very own love tree. Several of your children have become young tree huggers in their own right.

Today the teachers and I talked about the tree study and where we might go from here.  They had so many fabulous ideas, most of which I would never have considered on my own.  Ahhh the power of collaboration! I can hardly wait to share these inspirations with you and the children in the months ahead.
If you are a parent at our school come on by to see our resident tree and if you'd like to share your love of trees with the world, there will be lots of opportunities ahead!  PLEASE contact me and we will make something happen.
Enjoy your weekend and say hello to your neighborhood trees!

For the LOVE of Trees

On Thursday of last week, I gave a presentation to the whole school entitled, For the Love of Trees.  I introduced the children to some of my very best friends in Denver... the TREES.  I shared the wonderful discovery that trees communicate!! But not like we do.  They communicate via chemicals and fungi networks in and around their root systems. WHOA! (If you want to learn more about the Wood Wide Web, you can watch this video here  or this informative ted talk. For a deeper dive pick up Perter Wohlleben's wonderful book The Hidden Life of Trees. )

The children were surprised.  Trees can talk?  Yep.  And you can talk to them.  Really?  Well I do!  I shared how I learned to talk to plants and trees as a little girl by listening with my heart.  Yep.  Sound hokey?  To adults maybe it does, but children often know what I'm talking about.  The heart feels love.  Love is a kind of chemical in the body and our heart is a big ole magnet. 

As a child of hippies, I was taught to "listen" to trees with my heart and senses.  I learned to discern if a plant needed water or nutrients by sight and touch and yes... feeling.  I learned to ask before picking a leaf and then listening with my heart to hear the reply.  If my heart grew warm with love I took that as a yes and if not, I didn't pick the leaf or fruit or flower.  

Many of the children were eager to give it a try.

After our presentation the children were invited into the studio to share their wonderings and ideas about trees.

I also introduced a large "tree" made of paper, cardboard and tape.  We will be adding papier mache' to it's surface in the weeks ahead.  In the Spring our little tree will be on display in the corner window of the Artisan Center along with your children's thoughts and creativity.  Stay tuned to watch this project unfold in the year ahead AND if you are inspired to learn or share more feel free to contact me!  I love to collaborate!

I hope you have  a beautiful and tree-filled weekend.  And if you are walking with your child, be sure to listen for a while to the song of the trees in your neck of the woods!

BONUS:Here is a video clip to my dear friend, a ponderosa pine along Apex hiking trail in Golden, CO.