Talking to the Trees?

A Mystery in the Trees

By Tuula Pere

May 4^th, 2018

Illustration by Outi Rautkallio

Talking to the Trees?

There is a mystery in the trees. Beyond their physical appearance, there seems to be much more. Some of you may laugh when I say that the trees have a soul, a personality that communicates with us – like the very human birch tree in my children’s book, A Birch Tree’s Year.

The most important birch trees of my childhood lined the village road close to my home. I learned later that they had been planted decades ago by an old relative of my friend. I spent a lot of time high up on my favorite branch observing the village life from the safety of the fluffy leaves. Even more important were the moments of peace and quiet in my thoughts.

It’s often said that we Finns have a special connection to nature and especially to the woods. We can still find shelter and peace of mind in the wild and enjoy the presence of the trees. There are also plenty of beautiful songs inspired by this special connection.

Especially the birch tree reflects the miracle of the changing seasons. It’s also a symbol of the gentle but strong bond between nature and human beings, all year round.