I took this picture last fall, when I first thought of doing this project:

This magnificent oak is located in a yard across the street from the house where I live. It is a glory in summer and autumn, but I like it all austere and clean like this. I love trees in the fall and winter when they are stripped down to the bare bones of their structures.

This tree was subjected to some severe trimming last year, and I'm waiting to see how it fares this summer. It must be upwards of 80 feet tall and probably about 4 feet around. There are a few of these tall, old beauties still standing in Woodlawn, but not for long, I'm afraid. As I was on my way to work this morning, I saw the tree butchers out again, chopping up branches and gleefully distorting tree shapes all along 233rd Street by the Woodlawn Cemetery.