They are the pale copper or light caramel colored trees you might notice scattered in the midst of early March’s muted grays and browns.
Before spring’s drama fully unfolds is the best time to appreciate them. Especially deeper in the woods. There’s not much else to see out there in winter’s drab dress—at least not to our eyes.
The reason: MARCESCENCE!
“Deciduous trees that hold onto their leaves through the winter are described as marcescent (mahr-CESS-ent).”
They bring beauty and interest in a place where everything else feels kind of bare and blah. Lifeless and limp.
There’s a line of them arranged across a ridge in our woods. Like they were planted with purpose. If you happen to live in Johns Creek, my favorite place to view them is along Abbotts Bridge Road. Stunning.🍂
I know their beauty has a biological explanation, but I can’t help but see them as stronger than the other more average deciduous trees.
They hang on.
They hold out.
They have hope.
They hint at beauty.
It seems when harsh winters or unwanted hardships come it might just be easier to let go and let our leaves drop ... to join the rest of the trees in the forest. But perhaps these beech trees can remind us of the strength + beauty which comes with resiliency.
The same Creator of these exceptional trees created you and me. Maybe we can’t do it on our own, but perhaps He has placed within us a similar quality as these trees.
Not marcescence, but dependence … on Him. On His strength.
In the deepest woods.
In the depths of winter.
Dependence on the One who not only reminds us of the next season of life, but who is Life.
🍂”But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers.” 🍂 ~ Psalm 1
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