All things respond to heart felt interest and appreciation. The more understanding you bring to your encounters, the more the tree will be able to give to you. To expand on your direct experience of a tree, find out more about it from other sources.
The Tree Profiles section will give you a lot of information about the trees I have profiles for.
Another great resource for this is the Fire Effects Database at:
http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/index.html
This database gives detailed information for over 900 plant species, many of them trees. It gives wonderful information on how a tree fits in with its environment, including what animals depend on it.
Getting to know a tree will enlarge your perspective on what it means to be alive on this Earth and what it means to live with the Gods. I hope this ritual will help others to develop longlasting relationships with these venerable citizens of the Earth.