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Savannah, 2023

“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted….” Ecclesiastes 3, 1-2; King James version (or The Byrds if you prefer)

Savannah has an extensive urban forest, dominated by old oak trees. These trees have survived wars and hurricanes, the invention of the automobile and the airplane (and help protect us from some of the side effects of that). Many of them were planted when it would have taken less than 30 minutes to walk across the City, a city that is now over 100 square miles in area.

So, it is not frequent, but not surprising to spot the sad green tag, an obituary, posted on a tree, informing a neighborhood that damage, disease, or just age requires the City to safely remove it. I understand, I accept, but for a while, walking through that square, I will see the gap and have a visceral sense of something elemental missing.

“A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they shall never sit.” Greek proverb.

For more of Bill’s photographs, go to https://www.billdurrence.com/index

  1. Connie B Hiott

    Bill thank you for sharing!

  2. Jamie Arkins

    Bill, this is a lovely homage to an old friend who has moved on. Trees are life!

  3. Cathy J. Sakas

    I cry and apologize each time we have to cut a tree down on either of our properties on Tybee and out in southern Effingham County. They are friends and stand sentinel to our lives. I marvel at how the long limbs of the live oaks are able to stay suspended above the ground. The natural engineering that goes into that feat is astounding. Thank you for capturing the death of one of our stately Savannah live oaks and for paying tribute to her life through your art.