Nature Observation 1

On a still, Texas morning, the trees do not move, and the air sits heavy - an unwelcome humidity. The trees outside my residence hall frame the building’s entrance. The modest common crape myrtle tree nearest to the entrance is at the end of a blooming season. The once pink, then white flowers have almost all fallen, leaving behind small, circular buds that blend in with the green leaves. The stump leads to four main branches, which gives way to many intertwined limbs and branches.  The bark is peeling away from the tree, leaving a swirl of clay red and dark, off-white spots. From afar the bark looks smooth, but when you touch the tree, you can feel the grainy texture.