Agreed: trees are nice, but no more a part of Quakerism than other symbology (effective as a metaphor, but not an integral part of the practice). I would put f

Agreed: trees are nice, but no more a part of Quakerism than other symbology (effective as a metaphor, but not an integral part of the practice). I would put forth an alternate theory that's a bit more practical. Quaker Meeting takes place on Sunday mornings, some as late as 10 or 11 am while the sun is heading towards peak. Most of these Meeting-Houses were constructed in an era well before air conditioning or fans, so anything that provided shade to keep the building cool in the warmer months would have been worth cultivating and protecting.