‘The Hidden Life of Trees’ by Peter Wohlleben
Since National Arbor Day is celebrated every year in April, I thought it fitting that a book about trees be featured this month.
After you read this book, you will always see trees differently. I think that we all have a sense that trees play an important role in our environment and our lives. Many of us have planted trees to celebrate a new baby, an anniversary or a life well-lived. We recognize that it takes time for a tree to grow and when we plant a tree, we have the expectation that it will be enjoyed by others long after we have moved on to a new home or really moved on. But I was amazed to read of a tree in Sweden that is over 9,500 years old! That’s at least 100 times as long as my grandpa lived!
This book is one to read a chapter every day. Written by a European forester, it explains the relationships between trees growing next to each other—as they help newly sprouted trees survive, support ailing trees and compete with other tree species. I was often reminded of the movie series, The Lord of the Rings, where the trees came alive – more correctly, visibly alive to the hobbits, etc.
In the book is an experiment with mimosas, also called “sensitive plants.” The plants were sprinkled with water, and the leaves closed up right away. But after a few experiences with the water droplets, the mimosas no longer reacted with fear and no longer closed up their leaves. Even weeks later, they held on to the lesson learned, “Water won’t hurt us.”
A continuing project of National Garden Clubs, Inc., is to encourage the planting of trees, especially native trees. This project, “Each One, Plant One,” has been embraced by The Garden Clubs of Illinois, Inc. and its member clubs, including the Naperville Garden Club and Cress Creek Garden Club. We encourage you to plant a tree or more! Look around your home landscape and find room for another tree. Be sure that the tree you choose will have room to grow to its full size. Tree experts at our garden centers can advise you.
