Big trees

 

This is another shot from our old hood. 

Rudely Uprooted

The recent ice storm did a number on trees all over town. We walked around a central Austin neighborhood a few days ago and came upon this disaster in someone's front yard. I was just wondering about all the shade that this nice tree provided for this home over the years. 

Love these signs

 The one on the left especially. Maybe the right ones refers to some ladies who live in the house. 

One weird tree

It was hard to tell if this was a tree or a piece of sculpture. We love our walks around town. 
 

Capitol Tree

This tree is on the grounds of the State Capitol Building. I happened to notice the odd arrangement of knots the other day.

Lotta lights!

The big tree at the SF Austin Hotel is full of lights this year. That took some work!

More Fall Walking

Also in Old West Austin, FFP walks along by some yellow foliage.

Fall Colors

As you could see yesterday in FFP's picture of Elm Street, Austin got some fall colors this year. Here he is walking through Old West Austin on that walk near some bright red foliage. A lot of the trees in Austin are Live Oaks. They push off brown leaves and instantly replace them. Kind of a deciduous evergreen! But we do have some maples, elms and others that can produce pretty colors. However, to make a nice display it requires a good deal of rain right before fall and an early cold snap. We had both this year.

Topping it off!

The tree-topping ornament here is outstanding. Another beautiful tree in downtown Austin.

Trees for Pease!

We support the Pease Park Conservancy and we are always glad to see a new tree in their environs.

Oh Christmas tree!

Love the decoration job these friends did on this tree. Just grand. 

Stately Cypress Tree

One day I was on the Butler Hike and Bike trail and this stately cypress tree looked so nice with Lady Bird Lake in the background that I felt compelled to frame this picture.

Bigger in Texas!

This colossal tree is on our State Capitol grounds.

OK, trees, line up now!

These trees are a sweet addition to the landscaping around our downtown area.

I don't want that job

That is one brave guy. Somebody's gotta do it!

Roots on top

We took a walk through the Great Lawn of Zilker Park and came upon the remains of one of the fine old trees at "Rock Island." We were out of town when the storm hit that toppled this tree. Since the sawed-off part of the stump was on the bottom and the roots were on top, we thought that this shot would be worthy of "Upside Down" -- the theme for today. Click here to see interpretations from around the world.

The homeless tree

A local charity created this tree for the people who have died on Austin's streets in recent years.

Keeping it tree-weird

I love Austin. No place else in the world would make a curb cut to save some scraggly little tree like this one. This photo speaks a thousand words.

Slated for extinction.

These trees will be cut down because they are effectively dead and are a hazard. The city has to put signs up about plans to remove them.

Merry Christmas

I usually play tennis on Thursday mornings. Not today because it's Christmas. I would do it myself, but the club is closed and my mates are probably all having Christmas celebrations. That's me, last Thursday, with the tree in the tennis center at the club. And, yes, they did hang tennis balls among the baubles.