First day of summer and the sycamore.

Happy Solstice one and all!
I hope you all made the most of the extra sunlight. We helped out at a local natural area clearing trees and brush to fight back succession of an open meadow. It's incredible what can be accomplished when everyone chips in (there were about 45 people volunteering - practicing social distancing). In just over 2 hours we had nearly everything cleared, brush and trees picked up, everything put back.
***teamwork***

But yes, the solstice, the day of light, although it's a natural occurrence I do like assigning other attributes. Self reflection is important and if the seasons can remind us to do that then all the better. The solstice shines light, helping us to see that which was hidden. Do you like what is illuminated? Do you see where adjustments need made? Do you feel the glow of growth and opportunity? Right now it feels like anything is possible, and by golly it just might be. 

Speaking of growth, it's time to check in with our favorite tree and the newest subject of our one year study series!
Can you even believe it's been 6 months since starting this?! So much in the world has changed in that time.
June has brought the summer skies, lush greens, and a breeze with the faint scent of honeysuckle.

The dappled sunlight, the grasses swaying, birds fluttering to and fro. The perfect summer day. 

I don't think I've ever really looked at a Sycamore before this project. Their growth is odd - they hold a lot of dead limbs, they leaf out later than many other trees, between the leaves there is a lot of empty space (nubbins on the branches suggest they may grow more leaves later?), hollow cavities and twists in the branches make good nesting areas as I found a bird fluttering to and fro from an opening (I'm assuming feeding babies). It'll be interesting to see if it fills out further between now and next month.
​For now, flip through the months below to see how it changes!