I love trees — their shapes; their shade; the varied textures of their barks; the colors of leaves from early budding to fall glory; the soothingly steadfast hues of the evergreens. I love the sounds of wind gently stroking or fiercely lashing branches; the tapping of rain on broad leaves; the clatter of icy twigs in winter. I love the scents of trees — the tang of pine or fir; the cinnamon scent of old oaks; the fresh perfume of birch; the sweet scent of sugar maples.

Astonishingly, trees love me back. The average tree lives longer than I will, and the whole time it takes care of us around the clock. Trees absorb tons of carbon dioxide per year; soak up or deflect millions of gallons of water by roots and leaf canopy, reducing flooding. They lower air pollution — CO2, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide and the tiny particles that threaten our lungs. Above all, they produce oxygen without which life on Earth disappears. The free U.S. Forest Service i-Tree tool online estimates the trees of Northfield provide environmental services worth tens of thousands of dollars each and every year. Foods from trees abound — peaches, pears, plums, apples, nuts are just a few gifts they offer. Some trees, like our giant catalpa, present flowers that rival the flower beds, or offer elaborate seed-making apparatus that sparks the imagination. Recent research shows trees have sophisticated methods of communication across species — so much we don’t know!

So what can we do for trees in return?

■Value trees — don’t cut unless there is serious danger or urgent need. Every tree is a valuable asset to the whole community.

■Plant new trees. This is challenging because you must think long term: How will the tree look in 30 years? How tall and wide will it be at maturity? Is it too close to a building, solar panel or garden space?

■Don’t use volcano mulch. Mulch against the stem and bark holds water, causing rot. Mulch is good, but kept 3 to 6 inches from the trunk.

■Don’t step on your trees’ toes. Try not to park right under your trees. Yes, shade is tempting; but tree roots grow to the outer edge of the widest branches; parking a heavy vehicle compresses soil and disrupts absorption of nutrients and water.

■Protect new trees by wrapping the base for the first couple winters. Voles and mice tunnel under snow to chew on bark during winters. Use caution with weed whackers near tree trunks.

■Water new trees well — 15 gallons a week, spring through fall. As temperatures fall, less water is needed until none is required after freeze. (Thanks to Northfield’s Junior Firefighters for watering the new trees along Main Street!)

■De-vine your trees. Both native (Virginia creeper, grape vines) and invasives (Chinese bittersweet) do significant damage to trees. Ultimately vines smother trees, blocking light and breaking off branches with their weight. If pulling out by the roots is too hard, cutting vines even once a year at the base of trees can protect them from strangulation and light starvation.

■Use those leaves. Mow them into mulch to feed your grass; pile them for eventual decomposition — they will reward you with rich mulch and soil for your gardens.

Global warming makes trees increasingly important for mitigation. Tree shade can save you money but more importantly, trees lower temperatures all around while moderating the effects of increased storm water and heat. Reducing pollution and freshening the air we breathe can help enormously during high heat or pollution from wildfires or wind storms.

As a gift to the town and its future, members of the Northfield Garden Club started the “Tree50th” project to plant 50 new trees along Main Street in honor of our 350th anniversary last year. With the help of a grant from the state Department of Conservation and Recreation, planting will continue this fall and potentially next spring. To prepare, Dickinson Memorial Library and the garden club will host a special public presentation, “Trees for Our Future,” Thursday, Sept. 19, 5:30 p.m. at the library. We’ll begin with a tree planting demonstration. Even if you know how to plant a tree, come hear our speaker, Dan Ziomek, Manager of Sugarloaf Nurseries in Sunderland, talk about the benefits of trees and how to care for them. Also an expert on birds (he hosts WRSI’s Birdsongs show), Dan will lead our discussion and answer your questions. All welcome!

Judy Wagner lives in Northfield.