If you are able to look at one or more trees right now, please do so. Notice how the leaves and branches may be swaying. Is there any area of the tree that is moving more or less than the others? Why might that be? 

Right now, I am looking at a few pink-flowered myrtle trees within view of my balcony. I notice that the branches that are thin and jutting out beyond the denser mass of foliage tend to move more. There is one sprig in particular that is doing these funny little circles in a way that seems very off-beat to the rest. What is the cause for this? May there have been a particular gust of wind that only hit that part of the tree, right then? What is even more curious is that this relatively intense dancing has since subsided… right now, I can barely detect any movement at all. 

The groups of pink flowers (what are those called, anyway?) seem to be heavier than the branches with only leaves, as they do not move much. When they do move, it seems like a heavy “up and down” bob. The leftmost myrtle tree bush (hm… what do you call the “bushy” part of the tree, separate from the main trunk? Is it bush? Foliage? Something else?) is now swaying way more. Almost as if a person had just hung on one of its branches. 

Consider all of these small details of movement. Write them down or speak them out loud. I find myself increasingly curious about localized wind patterns. I wonder how having thick woody branches might affect movement relative to the thinner, green branches. 

Is wind the primary cause of the movement? I suppose so, although I imagine that having birds or squirrels climbing around the branches would also do the trick. 

I do not notice the tops of the tree swaying more than the bottom, but that would have been my assumption. 

I recommend writing out your prior assumptions about what the movement patterns will be like. Which parts will be moving more or less? Will the movement be a gentle side-to-side sway? A rapid circular motion? A steady up-and-down bob? A nearly imperceptible tremble? Which direction does the wind seem to be coming from? 

Farther off in the distance, I see a cottonwood’s individual leaves violently shake back and forth, flashing different shades of green in the sunshine. The myrtle leaves do not move in this way. Not so glad to see me and wave hello, I suppose. 

1. Draw the tree as a whole.
2. Label the areas that are showing more movement with arrows and words.
3. Draw a few individual branches and arrows to describe their movement.
4. Write down at least three observations about the movement patterns.
5. Write down at least three questions about the movement patterns.

Enjoy noticing trees!