I am not sure if Melissa was making the same connection to the old novel as I am here with her title “A tree grows in Grayslake” . I am guessing she is. 🙂 Be sure to click through to see her latest painting. She has found a lovely oak standing alone against a beautiful sky. Here in New England they are fewer and harder to find in a natural setting so we have to find other ways to create separation.
You may be shocked to discover that I have used fog to accomplish this. 😯
I have been driving by this old Oak for years waiting for a scene like this. When I set out on Sept. 17 in a thick fog spreading through Amherst, I was just hoping it would be the same in Quabbin Park by the time I got there. At first I thought it had thinned too much, but “upon further review” I think it is just as I wanted it.
Please click the image to see it larger and “separated”. 🙂
Stephen Gingold Nature Photography Blog 
Your isolated tree and Melissa’s have grouped together and connected me to the story of the Heaven Tree and A Tree grows in Brooklyn. And I learned that the Heaven Tree is one which can clone itself indefinitely, so would be hard to isolate. Have you ever come across a Heaven Tree? Apparently the Heaven Tree is in New Zealand too, and is considered a weed.
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I’d never heard of the Heaven Tree, but I see that it’s also called a varnish tree or stink tree, and that it has a reputation as an invasive that rivals our Chinese tallow for its ability to run native plants out of the neighborhood. Interesting.
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Yes, as the link says, the Heaven Tree is no angel!
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I have seen one or two but as Linda mentions, they are introduced and invasive. But we have our own 1,000 trees as one species in the Quaking Aspen. Fungi can also fit this description as The Humongous Fungus is recognized as the world’s largest living organism and is all one big ol’ honey mushroom.
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Yikes! I think I prefer solitary, single specimens . Solitary is more in keeping with my nature. 😉
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Linda, Melissa, and now you have presented wonderful oaks. So presenting you all with an Acorn Award. This is such a neat shot, don’t know if you have any Druids ’round there, but this is a perfect atmospheric setting.
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I am sure we probably have our share of Druids here in the Happy Valley. True Druids or Druid wannabees I cannot say. Thanks for the Acorn Award. I will cherish it always. 🙂
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Hearing the phrase “a tree grows in…” always takes me back to the swing on my grandparents’ porch, where I read the book during one of my summer visits there. Pure pleasure.
Your photo’s purely pleasurable, too. It seems as if even the air is green, and I imagine the spot as you found it that morning absolutely still and silent. While I understand what you mean about the tree being separated, I first saw it as if from behind, with its long limbs embracing the nearby trees.
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To be honest, I never read the book but did watch the movie with my mother while a child.
I like the idea of green air. Unfortunately, despite the fog the air and ground are relatively dry now so, illusion aside, there was not the green smell to go along with the atmosphere.You do however see the tree as I do. I thought of titling this Tree Hugger but decided to avoid politics. 🙂
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I love this! It is so spooky and atmospheric and, as Linda says, even the air is green. Thank you so much for mentioning me! 🙂
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It has all I was aiming for although spookiness was not intentional…just a deep moodiness that exuded peace and quiet…two qualities I try for in the majority of my landscapes.
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Yes and that definitely comes through. In fact that could be your tagline. (I’ve been reading marketing books again….)
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🙂
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This a definite stand-out even where everything looks green. A lush landscape with a tree that grows and stands in beauty and dignity.
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Thank you, Yvonne. The tree does indeed evoke dignity. It is quite old, possibly pre-dating the Quabbin itself and I was so pleased to be able to represent it as deserved.
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We’ve been in WA state the past week. A recent walk took us through some old growth rain forest. It looked much like your excellent photo with green everywhere.
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One of the disappointments so far in my life of non-travels is never having visited a rain forest. We do have some old growth not too far from here, but nothing like what you are seeing in WA or, even better, what is still living in Central America.
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It’s emerging, but not separate in my eye, and the fog keeps everything melded together. You’ve created a very peaceful and nourishing atmosphere in this image.
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