January 10, 2025
After an unseasonably warm, almost spring-like December in the mountains of central New Mexico, January clearly has something else in mind. Winter! Windy days have resulted in bitter cold as they brought us cloud-cover and a few mini-snowstorms.
The change in weather and absence of wildlife, combined with an abundance of dried vegetation is making it challenging to find nature journaling subjects. So a few days ago, I followed Luna around to see what was capturing her attention. Turns out burrowing rodents expanding their underground tunnels are leaving behind fresh mounds of soil with fascinating odors (to Luna, at least; I couldn’t smell a thing).
When one of her explorations led me under a good sized pinyon tree, I noticed a very interesting piece of bark lying on the ground. Turning the piece over and over, examining all the beautiful patterns in the wood, the colors, old bug holes, and woodpecker drillings, I was surprised and delighted to see a good-sized hole in the shape of a perfect Heart! Eureka!
Many things crossed my mind in that moment …… but the one word that stuck was “Heartwood!!” Could this small piece of bark redefine the meaning of heartwood? Could this tree have been wearing it’s true emotions on its bark in the form of a heart-shaped window?
After a refresher on basic tree anatomy, and reconfirming that heartwood surrounds the core of the trunk, my imagination went wild. Could that heart-shaped hole in the bark been the opening of a mysterious pathway through the inner workings of the tree?!!! If I could’ve returned the piece of bark to the exact place from where it fell, could the heartbeat of the tree be heard?
While sketching the piece of bark with its perfectly-shaped heart, I wondered if peering at the inner workings of a tree through this window would make a fun children’s picture book? ….. Where the layers of a trunk and how they work would be experienced first hand by a child walking down the pathway?
After you stop laughing from all this nonsense, let me know what you think?
As always, thanks for stopping by (on my magic carpet ride!)
a curious nature 
Fascinating and curious look at heartwood! This is my first time learning about it and you covered it so well.I think your idea of a children’s book is brilliant! Such a gorgeous view from your new studio and I bet it’s pretty with the snow. I’m concerned about those gun weilding land owners! Stay safe and cozy, Barb!
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Thanks so much Karen! Reviewing tree anatomy was a good refresher for me, and I’m so glad you found it helpful. The view of South Mountain is such a distraction, and what a prominent landmark too; one that can be seen for miles and miles. I snapped a picture of the snow on its slopes. Good thing too, cause the little skiff vanished quickly under today’s sun! I’ve laid out (in my mind) what might be fun for a kid’s tree anatomy lesson, including how the pathway would lead through two major transportation systems, the living bark or Phloem which moves sugars made in the leaves down to the roots (what a messy, sticky affair that would be) and all the way into the the Sapwood or Xylem, where water from the roots travels up the tree (perfect for,washing off all that sugar!). Maybe that’s a journey best left for Flambé? Hahahahahah!
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I am ALWAYS grateful to you for giving me learning opportunities when I read your posts. Today, well… I’m a bit embarrassed to admit I had thought “heartwood” was what is actually the pith. Long ago, I had learned the correct terms, now forgotten until you gave them back to me. Thank you! The heart is precious… thank you, Luna! And your drawing is gorgeous! One thing though, I wish your blog format allowed me to expand the pictures so I could better appreciate the details in your drawings and more easily read the handwritten text.
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So cool, Robin! Your comments always make me smile, ear to ear. It’s common to get get the parts inside a tree trunk mixed up, which is why I also needed a refresher! Do you read my posts on a smart phone? If so, that might explain an inability to expand the photos. In any case, it might be possible to download the pics to your photo file for more detailed inspection? Sorry about the hassle tho. I’m always learning something new about WordPress….. maybe there’s something I can do to enlarge them on my end??
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I’m a PC gal; the iPhone is 90% camera and 10% navigation. So I always get email on my PC and open your posts in my browser. Now that I think a little, it might work to take a screen shot, and then open and expand that to see the details. Easy-peasy, and probably just the ticket! Thanks!
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Excellent, Robin! Didn’t think of a screen shot … very clever.
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I love this post! It’s “heartening” to know that other people in the world look at things in a different kind of way. Examining the bark and finding the beauty in it must have been a lovely journey! 🙂
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Wow! Such “heart warming” comments! I trust you also explore beyond the inherently ordinary and mundane? I echo your comments. Your handle …. Pecantreecrafts….. to me implies you share a love of wood grain? Awesome. Thanks for commenting and subscribing.
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So fun! You always come up with something fun, entertaining and educational too. Thanks for keeping me on your list. Enjoyed this one.
Sue
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Thanks so much, Sue! Glad you enjoyed ……. I certainly enjoyed reading your comments! And it’s great to have you as a subscriber!
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I think it could be a fun children’s picture book. Your work is looking adventurously legend-like and magical! 😀
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I’m thinking about the children’s book …… maybe someday? And what an awesome comment that followed. Thanks Z.F.!
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A child’s picture book on the inner workings of a tree would be awesome. It would likely spark a child’s imagination and perhaps they would look at a tree as an intricate living organism just like their own bodies!
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