13.25 - My passion for trees: France & close to home
I have a crush on a majestic tree that appears to have had a tough life, a survivor: imposing, resilient, humbling, awesome, calming & centering. I've long had enormous respect for trees...
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1. My passion for trees: France & close to home
I’m overflowing with information and passion about Trees in France and elsewhere that I’m keen to share with you, that I’ll need to be careful to avoid writing a book… so I’ll include a few links to enable you to deep dive where you choose. ok?
I have a crush on a majestic tree that appears to have had a tough life, a survivor: imposing, resilient, humbling, awesome, calming & centering. I've long had enormous respect for trees... But just quietly I admit that I’m polyamorous when it comes to trees. I find them awe-inspiring. Do you?
Here’s a photo I took last evening in the park I access via my back garden gate. I really enjoy examining the branches and thinking about how that tree came into being, I enjoy watching them change through the seasons, and I enjoy looking at the space between the branches, especially in winter and at dawn and in the evening, when it’s most visible. Wonderful trees!
I’m sure that you’ll really appreciate this book detailing and locating 50 of the oldest, rarest, strangest, and most historic trees across Paris, from the 400-year-old Black Locust facing Notre Dame to the deep fuchsia blossoms of the Judas Tree in the Jardin des Tuileries - covering all 20 arrondissements.
“All trees have a story to tell,” says the map author Amy Kupec Larue. “Trees are silent witnesses to centuries of history – events, fashions, celebrations, and discoveries. It is our collective responsibility for the 21st century to cherish all this natural patrimony, watching over its oldest members and planting the seeds for future greats.”
More than a decade ago, every council-owned tree in Melbourne, Australia was given an email address. It was a way for the City of Melbourne, to track any maintenance, but it soon took a more poetic turn.
"To the tree on the corner of Park Road and Alexandria Avenue and that little street that goes up the side. I've always wondered about you ever since my slightly strange driving instructor who always smelled like cat food and peppermints told me that you were his favourite tree," wrote one Melburnian, to a tree. Discover more
In 1793 the blade on a newfangled killing machine was hard at work. When it sliced through the neck of King Louis XVI and his head tumbled into the guillotine’s basket, the Divine Right of Kings came to an end in France.
3. What are the numbers appearing on the ‘le Bulletin’ subject title?
Q: A few subscribers have been asking - What are those numbers on ‘le Bulletin’?
A: We’ve been celebrating our 13th birthday here at MyFrenchLife.org Magazine and ‘le Bulletin’ newsletter and I’ve been busy finding a way to mark this milestone, and to celebrate our longevity. So ‘le Bulletin’ is now numbered!
Last week’s free newsletter is titled: 13.24 - Street Photography in Paris ’13’ denotes that this is our 13th year of publishing ‘le Bulletin’ ’24’ denotes that last week was week 24 in 2023.
If you’re a paying subscriber then you’ll also have seen that your paying subscriber ‘le Bulletin’ last week was titled: 13.24.a - The Olympics in Paris 2024: Positive or negative - with a preview for free subscribers ’13’ denotes that this is our 13th year of publishing ‘le Bulletin’ ’24’ denotes that last week was week 24 in 2023. ’a’ denotes that it was a newsletter for paying subscribers
4. Here’s what’s happening around France this week
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6. Merci Mille fois
“Merci mille fois... for being such a loyal, occasional, or new, reader of ‘le Bulletin’ & my weekly Missives featured in each newsletter, where I follow my curiosity wherever it takes me…” Judy MacMahon
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