Taking in Life Around Me.....#Sundaystills Theme: Trees and Leaves

This #sundaystills challenge is hosted by Terri from Second Wind Leisure. It's a great themed photography challenge that you'll enjoy. I love seeing the other participants interpretation of the theme each week...it causes me to think outside the box. I joined in hopes of it pushing me to get out and take more photos...I have to some degree, but I also like that Terri is okay with us finding photos in our archives, which is also a lot of fun. So check out my photos and then head over to Terri's page to participate or visit other's posts. There are some awesome contributors who always inspire me.

This weeks theme is Trees and Leaves...Fall hasn't quite hit hard in my neck of the woods, so I'm digging up some oldies...a couple newer ones...I know, the theme doesn't say "fall" leaves, but this time of year, that's where my mind goes. 

While the kids and I were exploring the gnome trail in Seabrook, Wa, we also explored some hollowed out trees, and the insides were pretty cool. 

I love the beauty of the trees in the PNW. 

Trees in the Hoh Rain forest. 

The crooked tree in my aunts vineyard is a favorite of mine. Especially the wind chimes hanging from them. They were my moms. 

These fern and hosta leaves were just so bright and vibrant I had to get a picture. 

I spotted several of these trees in the rain forest. They're called 'nurse" log. Defined as fallen trees that provide ecological facilitation as they decay, providing shade, nutrients, etc for seedlings and thus new trees can grow on and around them.  

This fallen tree looked like a heart and all it's valves, and look at all the life coming from it still.

HUGE trees in the Mt. Rainier National Park. We felt so small. 

This tree was so old...I loved how they shared different events that happened in it's lifetime. 

I fell in love with the Banyan trees while in Hawaii. I imagined how fun they would be to play in as a child...what incredible forts. 

Of course I couldn't leave out the fall colors of the New England States. I LOVED this trip and would love to go back again. 

One of the big old trees in Seabrook, Wa. This was at the entrance to the gnome trail. The kids love playing in it. 

Beautiful grape leaves in my aunts vineyard last October. 

With Joy Unquenchable,

Kirstin