Trees.

I have always had a thing for trees. Even when I was younger, I loved just being near trees. Where I grew up, we were literally surrounded by the big umbrella shade of old dogwoods, and oaks. I would run in my backyard in the breezy evenings of fall, and twirl in the showers of brightly colored leaves.

Trees are magical. They seem to me to be more alive than your average plant... perhaps because they live such long lives. If only trees could talk, they could tell us so many stories.

I enjoy photographing trees. This one here was on the outskirts of the southern downs in Portslade, England. Stewart referred to it as a "climbing tree", and I have to agree with him. If I was a little younger, I think I would have attempted to climb up in there for respite myself.