The tall cedars of the prairies always look large and
impenetrable. They’re like granite
monuments intended to occupy a solid space that is inviolable by anything that
might approach. In some ways they
perform just such a function and are living landmarks that have survived the
many changes around them.
On closer inspection, small patches of sky can be perceived
through the cedar canopy. The tree
appears less solid than it did from afar.
From inside, the tree seems almost light and airy. Plenty of room in here, if you can maneuver
around the branches. The upper part of
the tree is a favorite roost site of hawks and owls. A fine selection of
suitable perches here, good protection from the elements and a nice visual
screen to hide the birds of prey from bothersome crows.
It may be hard to see in from the outside, but you can get a
good view over the prairie from high inside the tree. I’m assuming that smaller creatures would
have an easier time than I did in trying to maneuver upward through the crowd
of cedar branches
When birds feast on cedar berries, it’s inside the canopy
that they sit to enjoy their feast.
Squirrels nest inside the cedars and move from tree to tree without
being seen by predators. It’s well worth
the time to stick your head inside the branches of a few cedars to see what
might be living inside. Even if all you
see is cedar, it’s from a perspective that offers its own unique qualities that
are equally attractive as the covering of green foliage seen from the outside.
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