Finding Our Roots

“There is a necessary wisdom in the give-and-take of nature, it’s quiet agreements and search for balance. There is an extraordinary generosity.”

Susan Simard, “Finding the Mother Tree: Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest”

The Blue Ridge Parkway spans the Appalachian Mountain Range from the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina. The area includes a diverse mix of climate, vegetation and wildlife. Dotted along the route, mile markers and signs announce majestic overviews, points of interest and trail heads for visitors to stop and explore.

On a recent visit, a friend and I hiked the Green Knob/Sims Creek loop trail in Julian Price Memorial Park. The hike begins with a path through a dense rhododendron forest. Towering plants clutch and cling to the mountain side. Exposed roots are visible, then disappear, dipping into the deep soil. Even in the mid-day the trail is dark. Trickling, clear streams and emerald moss-covered rocks zigzag across the path.

Birch, beech, walnut, and hemlock trees thrive in this moist, wet environment. Prominent root systems reach out with bony-like fingers seeking and sharing nutrients with the community. Twisting and curling, they grip “the palette of rock and soil.” Here in this rich forest, the trees share a spirit of cooperation. Older trees, felled by age or storm, decay and feed the younger trees. Standing side by side, their taproots “hold hands,” transmitting rhizomes and encouragement.

There is a wisdom in these old mountains. Walking in this sacred place, one can feel the ancestral thread of life. With each step, time reveals itself in the past, present and future. Our breath slows and a calmness envelops us as we search to find our individual roots and the roots of all creation.