As soon as you turn off the Blue Ridge Parkway onto the little road that leads to the cabin, the trees arch over the road and welcome you home. The trees were planted over a century ago and line the road, almost a mile in length. They have been blessed with time and create a comforting little passageway that makes the road seem as if it falls off into infinity. This is the road that takes you to a good friend's mountain cabin that has been in her family for generations and the trees were thoughtly planted by her ancestors who considered what the road could be with time.
"The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit."
~Nelson Henderson
The last few days have been filled with a gentle rain that has brought down most of the fall leaves. It has been the prettiest fall I can ever remember. I shared this picture with you last year of the little road lined with Maple trees and a white picket fence that takes you to the farmhouse on my favorite country road here in Winston Salem.
There's something so peaceful about the way the trees frame the road and the light off in the distance.
The Mount, Edith Wharton's Berkshires home
I love the way trees line the driveways of old Southern plantations. They have a way of building your expectations and foreshadowing what is to come.
I love the way trees line the driveways of old Southern plantations. They have a way of building your expectations and foreshadowing what is to come.
I am particularly fond of the Live Oaks that line the historic streets of small Southern towns like Charleston, South Carolina and Savannah, Georgia. The Live oak is the southern symbol of strength.
'Rowan Oak' William Faulkner’s white-columned house in Oxford, Mississippi
Monet must have also seen the beauty of a tree lined avenue and even planted the 'Grand Allee' at his home in Giverny to elongate the view between his home and his garden.
By definition, an allée is a straight route lined with trees or large shrubs. Its French source venir ("to come") indicates, to emphasize the "coming to," or arrival at a landscape. In most cases, the trees planted along an avenue will be all of the same species.
Travel to France and you will quickly fall in love with the tree lined formal garden promenades and centuries old tree lined roads of the French countryside.
a view of the tree lined walking path at the Jardin des Tuileries in Paris
a Sycamore lined road in the South of France
The trees are like good architecture and look just as beautiful in Winter.
Wishing you safe travels and a beautiful journey as you travel home for Thanksgiving.
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