inside story #4: chet's tree trek photo
On page 121, the photo entitled "Chet Mirocha" was taken by Matt Schmitt. The year was 2004 when Chet began Como Park Tree Trek, sharing his love for and knowledge of trees with the community.
During the prepublication phase of this book I unsuccessfully searched for who to credit this wonderful photo. Recently, Deb Robinson reached out to inform me that she wrote the article in her "Neighborhood Naturalist" column of the Oct. 2004 Midway Como Monitor that includes this photo taken by Matt Schmitt.
Mystery solved!
INSIDE STORY #2: The cover painting
An actual tree in the park where my memoir's events take place inspired the cover art for Tree Trek: A Daughter's Walk Through Grief. This is a hackberry tree, and it is a huge, mature tree that is well-known and beloved in the community. It is one of the tagged trees on the Como Park Self-guided tree trek map. Last year it lost one limb to a windstorm but is still going strong thanks to St. Paul Forestry.
This particular tree was my dad's favorite tree in the park. It grows right along the pedestrian path near the lake. Because it was his favorite, it was very important to me to incorporate this particular tree into the painting representing the book. I bring in the colors and textures that convey the mood and feel I was looking for to portray in the painting. The path draws you in along with me as I invite you to join me as a reader on my walk through grief and trees.
This is not explained in the book, so here today you have a behind-the-scenes look at my process!
Watercolor, 13" x 22" on 300# cold pressed watercolor painting, 2024.
INSIDE STORY #1: Intro
Each chapter of the book is headed with the genus name of a tree, accompanied by a pencil drawing and explanation of where that tree's genus is found in North America. These two features give the reader a nice informational overview for the upcoming chapter.
I'm grateful for also being this book's visual artist. During the first few months of 2024, I created the pencil drawings for each chapter, and also the watercolor painting that comprises the cover.
Appropriate for beginnings, here is my drawing for the Introduction showing the new sprout of an American basswood.