Trees have brought joy to me my whole life. I am now a septuagenarian, and I’ve always loved trees. Maybe it’s because I was born in October when the beauty of trees paint the city with their full glory of color.
I lived in Chicago as a child where all the streets are tree lined and a neighborhood park is on every other block. Lincoln Park was my favorite place to go as a child.
My favorite school project in my primary years, perhaps fifth grade, was a report on the trees in my neighborhood. I lived across the street from a park, so I had plenty of trees to collect the leaves for my report. I collected as many varieties as I could, and I pressed and mounted them with pride for my school report.
So you see, the love of trees has been with me for a long time.
I can only assume that is why I was drawn to the Morton Arboretum. I have been a member for a long time. I go to the Arboretum to walk the trails and take in the sights and sounds of nature in all its glory. My only wish is that I lived a little closer so I could take in the glory of the Arboretum every day.
Now that would be a beautiful life!
