The Secret of the Tree

I fell in love at first sight with the place that inspired my spring coloring pages. It is a manor house in Slovakia surrounded by a beautiful park. A fact that really captures my imagination is that it hosted members of the Hungarian and European aristocracy. The young ladies of the Brunsvik family were even taught piano here by Ludwig van Beethoven.

Whenever I walk along the paths of this park, I feel as though I've stepped straight into the past. Tall trees guard the secrets of generations who once lived and wandered here. There is a mysterious stone grotto and benches carved from tree trunks that look as if a lady in a beautiful period dress had just been sitting there, waiting for her beloved.

In the park, wild nature blends with sculptures, and in the air you can smell moss, flowers, history—and during my spring visit, also wild garlic. If you move quietly enough and listen closely to the whispers of the trees and grass, the spirit of the park may prepare a surprise for you. This time, it dropped a májka fialová (the violet oil beetle) at my feet—the most poisonous beetle in our region. It releases a toxic alkaloid called cantharidin, once used by poisoners. So, as my father would say: "Don't touch, just look."

At the end of the park stands, like a magical guardian of the whole place, a special tree—a giant sequoia. It is unique not only because there are very few of them in Slovakia, but also because it has stood there for hundreds of years and has surely witnessed everything—love, farewells, even wars. It looks so old and massive, as if it had been planted there by forest wizards in times long past. Its roots spread across the ground like strong, powerful fingers holding the earth firmly in place.

When I stand by its trunk and look up, its crown is dense and tall, and suddenly I feel as if I'm standing beneath a living cathedral. The light filtering through its delicate needles in thousands of tiny golden rays feels magical. What fascinates me most, however, are its roots. Whenever I see them, I imagine that deep inside, in those mysterious hollows, someone lives. A forest fairy? Little mice? Or perhaps a family of happy sprites secretly planting wild garlic in spring? I imagine tiny windows glowing with warm light, little stairways made of roots, a small garden full of spring flowers, and tiny doors hidden under moss. This tree became the greatest inspiration for two of my newest spring coloring pages.

I would love for you to feel the same curiosity while coloring them—the desire to lean closer and peek at who might really live down there among the roots.

For me, this is "my" tree on the coloring page. For you, it might be a tree planted in your garden by your father or grandfather. A tree you pass every morning on your way to work, or the one you rest under in summer. Take your markers, colored pencils, or watercolors and start coloring.

The first part of the coloring book is available for download in PDF format. I'm preparing the second part for you as well, including special characters for children to play with.

Here's a video for inspiration on how you can color it. I used markers for small details and watercolors for larger areas, but of course you can also use colored pencils. I wish you a beautiful and relaxing coloring experience.

Photos: Jana Adamkova