My Dad called it his 'air conditioned tree'. We spent many afternoons sitting beneath the branches, sipping on Manhattans, swapping stories of his time in the Marines and mine in the Navy.

I now have a less colorful version in my back yard. I never sit beneath those branches without thinking of Dad.

I watch it carefully because it tells me about changing season.

There is another/different tree near this one, whose branches spread much wider, but which isn't as pretty; it is useful, and
neighbor's friends use it for summer picnics.

Haven't yet been able to set it properly, working on it!