The shape of a tree is as much a key to its species as its bark texture, flower type, or leaf shape.

Scraggly trees are scraggly because that's the way their species is built. Same for willowy trees.

My eye for tree architecture was born years ago in Costa Rica where I met a graduate student whose research focused on the subject. He climbed trees and measured everything—lengths of twigs, branches, and leaves; angles formed between branches and twigs; and more.

These data were used to mathematically describe different species of trees. His work pushed me to pay attention to the way trees are put together. Now, I revel in the variation among species, all of them beautiful in their own way.

The Tree Architecture Series began so that I could share with you this joy. Whatever catches my eye about the tree is enhanced through artistry, color, and dimension so that what I see can be rediscovered by you. My hope is that you look at trees with a greater appreciation for the incredible elegance each one possesses.