Deep Roots

There's a book that's trending right now on the dinner party circuit and in the press: The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate—Discoveries From A Secret World. Though I haven't read it yet, what I've gleaned from the reviews is that trees are highly social beings. According to the author, Peter Wohlleben, a German forest ranger, trees develop intricate communication networks through their roots. They can learn, remember and feel—and their actions reflect a communal philosophy. They look out for their neighbors. Today, I saw some incredible trees in Kubota Garden in South Seattle, and their expressive shapes did indeed give me the sense that trees have much to tell us if we know how to listen.