Friday, October 22, 2010

Leaning trees



When driving on M-127 around St. Johns, MI there are, what we loving call, the leaning trees.  These trees were planted decades ago between the fields.  The wind is quite strong and consistent in this area and the trees have never been able to grow upright.  There is just this small section - maybe a mile - where all of the trees lean.


There has always been a very definite lean to the trees.  I don't remember a time when those trees weren't there, but the past few years I've noticed that the line has been thinning.  More and more of the trees are falling over.  I have begun to wonder if sometime in the very near future these trees will be all dead. 

I'm also beginning to wonder if the wind still blows strong enough in this corridor that would make newly planted trees lean?  I'm sure the landscape has changed in this area.  There are probably more buildings, more cars, a bridge or two - I just wonder if any of that has changed enough to make the wind less powerful.


I didn't realize that there were so many rows of these leaning trees until I took the side road and drove back a ways.   (That's why the trees are now leaning the other direction - I was just standing on the other side of them!)


When I was a kid I always got such a kick out of seeing the leaning trees.  It was my favorite thing to see on the way out of Lansing. 

Who am I kidding.  I still get a huge kick out of seeing these trees. 

I guess I'm probably still a kid.

Have a great day!
Kristin

3 comments:

Debby@Just Breathe said...

They sure do lean, the winds must be really stronge. Thanks for sharing you joy!

lauren said...

I know this post is old, but I always love looking at these trees when traveling in my home state. Glad I found these pics because it's hard to get people in other states to believe you that they exist! Never take this post down. :)

Kristin - The Goat said...

I promise not to take down this post, Lauren. :) Thanks for leaving me this comment!