Ever since I can remember, my father, a former biology teacher, taught me to love the outdoors. In high school, I developed a love for trees. I can thank my former AP Biology teacher for that.

Over 50 years ago my grandfather planted a corkscrew willow in his backyard.  As the tree reached maturity and was close to the end of its life cycle, my grandfather took a branch and placed i

Trees root us to mother earth. The tall sturdy trunk serves as a backbone to fulfill balance and strength. I planted a Red Bud tree in my yard.

My husband Jay passed away at the young age of 54. He loved nature; and we spent time at The Morton Arboretum, Garfield Park Conservatory, and the Chicago Botanical Gardens.

Buying our new home was as exciting as can be, and with that new Home came the gift of a tree.There was a beautiful weeping willow and oaks that graced the yard, but this tree was different it came

     It was just a bench among the pines.

When I was growing up in Glen Ellyn, there was a beautiful big hawthorn tree on our corner. As kids we climbed this tree, branches for each of us.

Forty years ago, before we had children, we had a newly planted ash tree. The children came later and grew with the tree.

My grandmother passed away in 1991. As part of her will, she left $100 to each of her grandchildren. I used my $100 to buy a Pin Oak sapling from Wannamakers in Downers Grove, IL.

My son David and his wife Patty already had three beautiful, healthy kids when their son Dawson was born in October 2011.

While attending Northern Illinois University, I was shown a fascinating tree outside of one of the lecture halls.

So what makes a great “tree-mendous” story?

Whenever little Raymond and his mother visited the Morton Arboretum, he insisted that they visit the “owl tree” on the west side of the park.

We walk together, hand in hand, breathing the chilly air and breathing out small puffs of smoke. The special quiet of snow has descended. The familiar crunchy sound of fresh snow under our boots.

My younger sister recently married her best friend and the love of her life. It was a truly beautiful ceremony and reception!

It started almost 30 years ago. My wife and I had taken our only child at the time to the Morton Arboretum to spend the day.

We moved into our house in May of 1998. Our son was seven and our triplets eight months old. When school started, we posed our oldest in front of the catalpa and took his picture.

 I stepped onto the crumbling asphalt trail

and followed it to the local wood where I stepped inside

and as I walked I watched the trees give way

My daughter was supposed to have twins in May, but one didn't make it. Soon we are planning on planting a tree in memory of the twin.