Welcome to My Tree Stories

My name is W. Jim Cortese. I spent nearly 50 years working with trees as an arborist and urban forester, and I have learned that trees are never just trees. They hold memories, mark places, witness history, and connect us to the people who came before us.

That belief led me to compile John Muir Climbs a Tree and Other Tree Tales, a collection of stories about the enduring relationship between people and trees.

Here, I will share some of those stories, along with reflections on historic trees, nature, community, and the lessons trees can still teach us. I will also occasionally write about the practical side of tree care and the things homeowners and communities should consider when caring for the trees around them.

Everybody has a tree story. Maybe it is a tree you climbed as a child, one planted by a parent or grandparent, or one that has simply been part of your life for so long that you cannot imagine the place without it.

I hope you will follow along and share your own story.

— W. Jim Cortese