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Its Last Hurrah

Posted by
Steven (Chicagoland, United States) on 10 October 2024 in Landscape & Rural and Portfolio.

In Autumn of 2022, this towering maple tree put on one final, breathtaking performance before it had to be cut down. It took me by such surprise that I captured it with only my cell phone. I had driven by the tree on an almost daily basis, which I would barely notice during the summer. Its broad branches, once a canopy of life and shade, were ablaze with fiery oranges, as though nature itself knew it was a farewell performance. Each gust of wind sent a cascade of fluttering leaves into the air, drifting softly to the ground like embers from a slow-burning fire. Neighbors paused to admire its beauty, as if aware that this seasonal transformation would be its last. For years, the tree had been a steadfast presence, and this final autumn was a bittersweet tribute to its long life, its color more vivid and poignant than ever before. Little did I know that there would not be any encore performances. When the time came for it to be cut down in 2023, it left behind a vivid memory of nature’s cycle, a reminder of impermanence, and a final burst of beauty.

Weekly prompt: Performance

Photo captured along Harding Avenue in LaGrange Park, Illinois on October 24, 2022.

Samsung SM-A135U 1/310 second F/1.8 ISO 40 27 mm (35mm equiv.)

New photos posted on most Mondays through Thursdays.
All photos are copyrighted and may not be reproduced or distributed without my expressed, written consent.

Spotlight Images

Marie from Parc régional naturel de Chartreuse, France

Just superb! Great framing on this big tree.
https://mesregards.fr/

10 Oct 2024 5:07am

Jypyä Pop from Turku, Finland

I mourn the cutting down of old and big trees. Just like Pocahontas says in her own words in that movie: "when they are knocked down, only an empty sky remains". I've sung that song in the choir and I think it's a wonderful speech for nature conservation

10 Oct 2024 5:41am

lisl from Winsley, United Kingdom

It's as if it knew. This is a sad, sad story, Steven

10 Oct 2024 5:42am

Stephen from Canberra, Australia

Wow - very moving story and image. A metaphor for life.

10 Oct 2024 5:53am

Bill Phillips from Droitwich, United Kingdom

A stunningly beautiful image of a magnificent tree Steven. What a shame it had to be cut down.

10 Oct 2024 6:27am

Daniel from Perpignan, France

Superbe feuillage !!!!!!

10 Oct 2024 6:29am

jpla from Anjou, France

c'est beau, bravo !

10 Oct 2024 6:42am

Ana Lúcia from Leiria, Portugal

Majestic tree. Bravo.

10 Oct 2024 7:21am

Ray. B from Charentes-Poitou, France

L'automne dans sa beauté.... Magnifique arbre et de belles couleurs.)

10 Oct 2024 7:48am

mo.langel from Courtelary, Switzerland

This tree is magnificent with its autumn colors! Beautiful composition!

10 Oct 2024 8:10am

Giulio from Turin, Italy

A welcoming tree that has been a comforting presence for countless generations. Great frame!

10 Oct 2024 8:20am

Gérard from Chateau-Gombert, Marseille, France

Oh !!!!! Marvelous !!!!

10 Oct 2024 8:50am

Hiro from Kyoto, Japan

This is amazing !! The government officials who cut down this tree must have been disappointed.

10 Oct 2024 9:42am

Rose from United States

What a glorious last performance! It is beyond gorgeous.

10 Oct 2024 9:49am

Petits Bonheurs from AIGLUN, France

Hello Steven,
Cet arbre est une merveille ! Je suis très admirative.

10 Oct 2024 11:12am

Ruthiebear from Titusville, NJ, United States

How glorious it looks. Such a shame it had to be cut down.

10 Oct 2024 12:55pm

Mhelene from Villiers-sur-Marne, France

Wow! What glorious foliage ! Beautiful photo !

10 Oct 2024 2:56pm

Jean-Luc.M from Nancy et ailleurs, France

A splendid tree in autumn, but why was it cut down ?
Superb capture.

10 Oct 2024 4:12pm

@Jean-Luc.M: The tree was rotting from the inside out and was losing its stability and could have fallen on something or someone.

Willem from Noord-Scharwoude, Netherlands

An astonishing photo result, you have beautifully photographed a beautiful tree in autumn colors.
All things come to an end, including this tree.

10 Oct 2024 6:04pm

Remus from Portugal

Cutting down that tree was a criminal act. It was perfectly healthy and didn't seem to be bothering anyone or anything. It was a magnificent tree, captured here in all its glory.

10 Oct 2024 6:45pm

suzanne from Belgium

Une image de toute beauté !!!
Quelles belles couleurs :-)

10 Oct 2024 7:03pm

Ted from Blackwood, Caerphilly, United Kingdom

Amazing colour in it's prime and such a loss.

10 Oct 2024 7:38pm

Marjolein from Voorne aan Zee, Netherlands

He is/was a real beauty

10 Oct 2024 8:53pm

Marjolein from Voorne aan Zee, Netherlands

And congratulations

10 Oct 2024 8:54pm

Ron from Fraser Valley, Canada

Magnificent colors which I'm sure brightened up the neighborhood during autumn. Such a shame it had to go. At least you got a photo of it during one of its best display.

11 Oct 2024 1:13am

Ron from Fraser Valley, Canada

.....also congrats on your featured photo.

11 Oct 2024 1:18am

Harry from Apex, NCnd eye sees all, NC, United States

gorgeous orange hues in this spreading tree

11 Oct 2024 1:59am

Elizabeth Buckalew from Flagstaff, United States

It is so incredibly gorgeous - I'm so sorry about its demise.

11 Oct 2024 2:23am

B. Thomas from Arlington, Texas, United States

My first thought when this photo opened on my screen was "WOW", amazing tree.

11 Oct 2024 2:24am

Akbar&Armaghan from Gorgan, Iran

Beautiful tree with those orange red leaves...

11 Oct 2024 2:40am

Gérard from Chateau-Gombert, Marseille, France

And congrats on your Spotlight !

11 Oct 2024 4:47am

Ginnie Hart from Netherlands

That is one magnificent and glorious Good-Bye, Steven. But WHY did it need to be cut done????

11 Oct 2024 5:07am

Astrid from Netherlands

As if it knew that it was in the last year of its life this tree gave quite the performance. Now I wonder why it had to go instead of pruning? The colours are just glorious and good for you to take that picture.
Have a wonderful weekend.

11 Oct 2024 6:22am

Claudine/canelle from Lorient, France

Quel dommage d'avoir du le couper , il etait splendide , d'ailleurs ta photo est vraiment superbe
Bonne journée

11 Oct 2024 7:12am

ceteceva from Angers, France

Un arbre remarquable ! Belles couleurs !

11 Oct 2024 8:37am

PascalXLD from Lorient, France

Superbe arbre avec ces couleurs d'automne
Bonne journée

11 Oct 2024 8:47am

Sam from Chennai, India

Wow. Amazing. A majestic tree with such gorgeous colours and a glorious past on its last journey. Sad, it was going to be cut down. Great capture and a wonderful presentation.
Congratulations on your spotlight. :)

11 Oct 2024 10:20am

Jean-Luc.M from Nancy et ailleurs, France

& Congratulations on the Spotlight !

11 Oct 2024 10:35am

Giulio from Turin, Italy

Congratulations on your spotlight Steven!

11 Oct 2024 10:41am

manu from Caldas da Rainha, Portugal

It's a shame that such a beautiful tree with its fabulous colors had to be cut down.
It should have stayed longer to cheer up passers-by

11 Oct 2024 11:11am

Ruthiebear from Titusville, NJ, United States

Congratulations on your SPOTLIGHT!

11 Oct 2024 2:12pm

Willy from Brussels, Belgium

Superbe feuillage Steven

une photo de toute beauté

greetings

11 Oct 2024 3:57pm

Peter B. from Fullerton, United States

Wow, what a beauty! This tree is a show stopper. I would have a hard time driving down the street without slowing way down to appreciate its beauty!

11 Oct 2024 6:19pm

Mhelene from Villiers-sur-Marne, France

And Congratulations on your Spotlighgt !

11 Oct 2024 7:48pm

Ana Lúcia from Leiria, Portugal

Congratulations on the Spotlight!

12 Oct 2024 8:11am

Aubélia Vanneste from Kortrijk, Belgium

Congratulations on the spotlight!

12 Oct 2024 8:38am

Willem from Noord-Scharwoude, Netherlands

Congratulations on the spotlight.

12 Oct 2024 4:05pm

Jean-Louis Guianvarc'h from Valence d'Albigeois, France

C'est splendide! Félicitation pour le spotlight. Bon dimanche.

13 Oct 2024 8:20am

Stephen from Canberra, Australia

Back here to say congrats on your Spotlight!

15 Oct 2024 6:35am

Calusarus from Valence, France

What a great tree. Congratulations on your spotlight

17 Oct 2024 8:59am