Sentinels

Sycamore Trees, Waterfront Park, Charleston, SC  © Doug Hickok


The day Irene passed by Charleston, my plan was to photograph a scene of inclement weather. Fortunately, for the lowcountry, there was less of that than expected (though Mother Nature continues to aim hurricanes our way). Instead, I improvised and switched my focus to these rows of sycamores in early autumn color.

Sycamores are the first to alert us that "danger" is on the way.
They begin to turn yellow at the first signs of drought and are the first to change color when the temperatures begin to drop.


Like sentinels on the first line of defense, these trees stand in a column with their camouflage trunks, alerting us to what lies ahead.