As I briefly sat under that tree, having walked around it
and beyond it to photograph it, I was reminded of the
opening scene in Kapur and Madden's memorable movie,
Elizabeth. The writers and directors were clearly equating
the namesake of the Elizabethan era with nature itself
and thereby the entire British experience, as much of the
opening narrative revolved around an imposing tree.
Trees signify a lot. This tree, situated as it is by this
remarkable house and every bit as imposing, represents
in tandem with the house the juxtaposition of the natural
world and the made world better than any similar
configuration of analogous type that I have seen. As I am
fascinated by the transformation that occurs upon the
union or marriage of the two, I found the experience of
being among these two forces energizing.
I had just come from the opening of an exhibition of my
collection of 20th century American photography, which
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