Being both a nature lover and a perpetual summer school student, the dazzling beauty of the Maryville College campus often stuns me in May, June and July.
Unfortunately, I often don’t notice this beauty as much during the fall. A full course load obscures the autumn color. Studying masks the refreshing breeze. Above all, stress causes me to overlook the intricate interactions of the natural world.
As I am probably not the only member of the campus community with this problem, I would like to share some snapshots of the early and middle summer that illustrate the peace, splendor and value of our own college habitat. Maybe stopping to look at these photos will inspire you to pause and witness the many layers of campus life that live and breathe without human concerns.
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Fresh dew glistening on the ground, the Maryville College campus brims with beauty on an early summer morning. Photo courtesy of Caroline Redmond.
I recall very clearly the morning that I took this photo. As students walked briskly to their classes and my mind heaved thinking about my many responsibilities, I suddenly stilled. The warm sun, cool breeze and damp ground evoked a feeling of wondrous tranquility.
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A tree in the Gibson Hall parking lot, which has since fallen down, provides an excellent silhouette against a purple summer sunset. Photo courtesy of Caroline Redmond.
Again, taking this photo involved an unanticipated interruption of school-related stress. I was sitting at my desk and beginning an assignment for my summer school course when I happened to look up from my book and out the window. This tranquil scene greeted me and inspired me to take a few moments to look, photograph and rest.
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A lively bird leaps from atop a streetlamp into the wind. Photo courtesy of Caroline Redmond.
After taking the first two pictures by unplanned inspiration and luck, I decided to become more deliberate about my observations of summer nature on campus. This photograph is a reward of that effort. I intended to capture the bird on top of the streetlamp and was worried when it began to fly, but now I realize how the action of flight is even more splendid.
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Sunlight bathes a sprawling tree near the central campus courtyard. Photo courtesy of Caroline Redmond.
Among all the natural forms on campus, trees are probably the most appreciated. Prospective and current students and alumni often talk about how Maryville College’s scenic fields and magnificent trees are strong attractions.
Without a doubt, these trees are of great value. Many of them are quite old, providing not only beauty and shade, but also history. In my opinion, protecting and preserving the trees of this campus should be nearly as important a concern as protecting and preserving its historic buildings.
This tree is a case in point. Although it is not the healthiest of trees and has its share of dead limbs, it continues to grow and flourish, reaching toward the sky in an effort to gain energy. In the process, it enables students to feel immersed in nature just feet from their classrooms, a benefit that many brick-and-cement campuses cannot offer.
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I hope you realize that my discussion of photography and nature is not simply meant to inspire awe. It is meant to inspire action.
These scenes of beauty and complexity are available to all students, faculty and staff. But we will benefit from them only if we take the time to slow down, observe the world and stand up for its preservation. The budding life forms on the college campus are a treasure that should never simply disappear under a swath of schoolwork and responsibilities.
