Erik Buckingham about 250 words
400 Ridge Road
Oriskany, NY 13424
(315) 939-9091
Student, INTD 105-19
The Seuss Spruce
by Erik Buckingham
Many Geneseo students see the Suess Spruce tree as a landmark on campus. Located in the heart of campus on the quad, the Suess Spruce tree bends to the side like the hat from Dr. Suess novels. The tree is filled with brown cones that bend and stick out of the bark. While the tree is eccentric and beautiful, it is also taller than it looks from far away when seen up close.
While walking up to the tree we notice that it begins to appear to be slightly shorter than Sturgis Hall, which sits directly behind the tree when viewing it from the east. While looking up at the tree, a viewer might see a clear blue sky, an overcast or even lightning. Beside the tree is another tree with blue bark. This blue bark is covered with the names of various organizations, which are written in white.
What is most remarkable is how tall the tree looks when we view it from as up close as possible. The spruce needles at the highest point of the tree seem to touch the sky. The winding tip of the tree curves seamlessly into the open sky above, making the towering tree look as if it is out of a children’s book. After seeing the Suess Spruce from a closer point of view we realize that it is not only a beautiful landmark seen from the concrete walkways of the quad, but also a landmark that makes ourselves feel much more insignificant when viewed up close.
