Tree

In botany, a tree is a perennial plant with an elongated stem, or trunk, supporting branches and leaves in most species. In some usages, the definition of a tree may be narrower, including only woody plants with secondary growth, plants that are usable as lumber or plants above a specified height. Trees are not a taxonomic group but include a variety of plant species that have independently evolved a woody trunk and branches as a way to tower above other plants to compete for sunlight. In looser senses, the taller palms, the tree ferns, bananas and bamboos are also trees. Trees tend to be long-lived, some reaching several thousand years old. The tallest known tree, a coast redwood named Hyperion, stands 115.6 m (379 ft) high. Trees have been in existence for 370 million years. It is estimated that there are just over 3 trillion mature trees in the world.

A tree typically has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground by the trunk. This trunk typically contains woody tissue for strength, and vascular tissue to carry materials from one part of the tree to another. For most trees it is surrounded by a layer of bark which serves as a protective barrier. Below the ground, the roots branch and spread out widely; they serve to anchor the tree and extract moisture and nutrients from the soil. Above ground, the branches divide into smaller branches and shoots. The shoots typically bear leaves, which capture light energy and convert it into sugars by photosynthesis, providing the food for the tree's growth and development. Flowers and fruit may also be present, but some trees, such as conifers, instead have pollen cones and seed cones; others, such as tree ferns, produce spores instead.

Under the Tree

Under the Tree can refer to either of the following:

Steven Sharp

Steven Sharp (born 22 September 1962) is a former English cricketer. Sharp was a right-handed batsman. He was born in Barrow-in-Furness, Lancashire.

Sharp made his debut for Cumberland in the 1982 Minor Counties Championship against Durham. Sharp played Minor counties cricket for Cumberland from 1982 to 2002, including 65 Minor Counties Championship matches and 19 MCCA Knockout Trophy matches. In 1986, he made his List A debut against Lancashire in the NatWest Trophy. He played five further List A matches for Cumberland, the last of which came against Leicestershire in the 1994 NatWest Trophy. He also played two List A matches for the Minor Counties cricket team in the 1990 Benson and Hedges Cup against Sussex and Derbyshire. In his eight List A matches, he scored 212 runs at a batting average of 35.33, with a high score of 75. His only half century for Cumberland came against Essex in the 1992 NatWest Trophy.

He also played Second XI cricket for the Lancashire Second XI.

Over the Rainbow

"Over the Rainbow" (often referred to as "Somewhere Over the Rainbow") is a ballad, with music by Harold Arlen and lyrics by E.Y. Harburg. It was written for the 1939 movie The Wizard of Oz, and was sung by actress Judy Garland in her starring role as Dorothy Gale. The song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song and became Garland's signature song, as well as one of the most enduring standards of the 20th century.

About five minutes into the film, Dorothy sings the song after failing to get her aunt and uncle to listen to her relate an unpleasant incident involving her dog, Toto, and the town spinster, Miss Gulch. Dorothy's Aunt Em tells her to "find yourself a place where you won't get into any trouble." This prompts Dorothy to walk off by herself, musing to Toto, "'Some place where there isn't any trouble.' Do you suppose there is such a place, Toto? There must be. It's not a place you can get to by a boat, or a train. It's far, far away. Behind the moon, beyond the rain..." at which point she begins singing.

Steven Sharp Nelson

Steven Sharp Nelson is an American cellist, best known as "The Cello Guy" of The Piano Guys, a YouTube music video channel, as well as a touring band.

Personal life

When Nelson was seven, his father decided that each of his children would learn to play an instrument invented earlier than the 1800s. He initially tried the violin but instead found his passion for the cello. In 2002 he graduated from the University of Utah with a bachelor's degree in music and later earned his master's degree in public administration. Prior to joining The Piano Guys, he worked in real estate.

Nelson credits his father with instilling his passion for music by his father displaying his own passion often. He openly credits God for his success but says that he does not want to push his beliefs on others or make others feel pressured by his music. As part of his faith, Nelson participated in a mission to South Korea.

Nelson is Mormon.

Nelson and his wife, Julie, have four children.

Career

As of 2006, Nelson was a real estate developer and described his music as an escape rather than a vocation. He never intended for music to become his primary income. Nelson signed with Stone Angel Music, an independent record label formed in 1999 by Paul Cardall, and released his first solo album, Sacred Cello, in 2006 earning him the Pearl Award for Best Instrumental Classical Album. The song reached the top 20 on the Billboard charts top 20 classical recordings. Nelson, and the rest of the Piano Guys, signed a contract with Sony Masterworks in 2012 that allowed them to retain artistic control of the group. He has also played with the China Philharmonic Orchestra. Nelson released two other solo albums: Tender Mercies in 2008, followed by Christmas Cello in 2010.