Tree week has been a lot of fun both to photograph and collate,  our focus was on presenting a varied collection of trees scattered throughout the city.   

We wanted to include the ordinary nondescript trees that provide a green foundation on our city streets as well as some of the more striking Dunedin trees. 

In some cases it's merely a dusting of a magical sunbeam or a cloud display across the sky that takes an ordinary tree and transforms it into something truly striking - oh to be there to catch those moments.

In the busyness of our modern lives and landscape a tree provides the eye with a place to rest,  to take some time and catch your breath.

"I knew of course, that trees and plants had roots, stems, branches and foliage that reached toward the light. But I was coming to realise that the real magician was light itself."     

 - Edward Steichen                                                                                                        

A personal favourite,  the Norfolk Island Pine is distinctive for its columnar structure.   Sometimes referred to as 'the living Christmas tree' it's surprising that this tree exists and maintains it's balanced structural form in the coastal climate it usually inhabits.   

We had a difficult time choosing between the moody image captured at dusk and the sunny blue picture taken during the day.  

We are finishing up tree week with the image below capturing a tenacious tree growing against the elements and some words to muse on by J.R.R Tolkien:

"All that is gold does not glitter,

Not all those who wander are lost:

The old that is strong does not wither,

Deep roots are not reached by the frost."

This tree inspires hope - when the going gets tough just keep growing sideways!

                      HAPPY WEEKENDING FOLKS!