There is a mis-conception that if a tree gets destroyed or cut down, all that needs to happen to repair the situation is to plant another one. Or plant several.
Um, a seedling is only inches high, it can’t do what an older tree does. It will be years before the new tree can begin to accomplish what missing tree was doing. I won’t go into the cleaner air and water and other benefits.
My sister picked up some pecans for me on a road trip. So I made salted buttered pecans this weekend and it got me to thinking…
It takes 10 years for a pecan tree to produce fruit. The trees at the community garden were 10 years old last year. I’ve only been a member for 3 years. I get to benefit from other peoples planning and planting. Yay!
Oh wait. No I don’t. The squirrels benefited. They had a party and ate them all!
When I’m ready to make my next batch, I will have to find another source of pecans unless we can wrestle some from the squirrels.
But if the current trees aren’t cared for and need to be replaced, the wait will be even longer.
A couple of days ago, when I went outside, there was dew on the plants by the front door. I like that this poinsettia has survived freezes, frosts and living part of the winter in my garage.
The picture doesn’t do justice to what I saw. All of the plants were bejeweled. Arrayed in finery that would rival royalty.
AND it didn’t cost me a dime!
The beauty of the moment reminded me to enjoy each second as I would a precious gem stone.
What makes you feel like royalty?

bejewled poinsettia
The community garden has a Hackberry tree along the fence line in the back. In front of it, we have some pear trees and we are amending the soil behind it to continue the orchard.
Becky calls it a trash tree. I showed it to my grand-children the other day and remembered a story Gpa told.
You see the birds will eat the seeds of plants and while they sit on the fence, they will poop it out. The poop feeds the seed and the tree will grow undisturbed for the fence will help protect it.
No one has been caring for this tree and it’s been allowed to grow however it wants. I think if we took some time and trimmed it up a bit, it would be fun to sit in it’s shade and have a picnic. I think I’ll make a sign so other’s can enjoy Gpa’s story.
Thanks, Birds!

trash tree