“Sometimes, he thought, he preferred trees in winter, rather than their full-leaf summer version – in winter you saw their mighty skeletons, registered their astounding engineering, their random, propulsive growth patterns better; you understood what amazing vegetable beings they were, how ancient, strong and enduring – and how complacently taken for granted they were. An eighty-foot London plane tree was a wonder, a marvel. People should take more note of these everyday giants in their lives, he thought, acknowledge them.”