“Large Opening”

Edgewater Park on Geneva Lake in Williams Bay, Wisconsin

July 20, 2024

With my postings of photographs I try to stay consistent with the current seasons even if the images are not contemporary in terms of years. But, similar to music, photography, particularly when in an artistic vein, can have a timeless quality.

You will notice right away the lack of leaves on this tree, so this photo was not made in the summer. Rather, I peered through the viewfinder of my Leica camera on April 16, 2006, as I stood at the far east end of Edgewater Park in Williams Bay, Wisconsin, on the shore of Geneva Lake.

This photograph could very well be titled “In Memoriam” because this grand willow was uprooted by the tornado that attacked the village on June 22. (I noticed one of the trees in the park had been toppled when I drove by the lakefront a few days after the storm, but I may be mistaken about this specific tree. Please post a correction if I am in error.)

Regardless, many trees of various species met their demise by the ferocious winds on that fateful day. How terribly sad, since trees are vital to our lives in so many ways.

Although out of season, this willow, which I have admired for decades, without its leaves reveals how magnificent it is, especially its “wingspan.” Such breadth! Can you believe it?

And, how about the tree details? The sinewy bark on the trunk and main branches stands out. They grow progressively smaller as they reach for the sky until just the wisps of twigs remain. What a contrast between them and the trunk.

I will be forlorn whenever I pass that section of the park and see the spot where the tree used to be. If I am not mistaken, the section used to have three giant willows. Do any remain?

To order a print of this photo, go to https://www.frednoer.com/blog/large-opening-on-geneva-lake-in-williams-bay-wisconsin.