A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.” Greek- unknown
Planting trees.... As I originally did not purchase a property full of them, but instead a field, I have probably planted well over 100 trees since I have lived here. A blank slate in which to create a space with my own shape. But inexperienced and confronted with rocks and poor soil and weather and other factors, allot of them... most of them... have not survived and thrived as I might have expected them to. In this beginning, I had grand landscape ideals with purposeful views and looking at classic designs and reading about such, set out to plant the largest roots of my garden first with just that in mind. For interest and children's play, I have a bamboo grove and small birch 'forest', a six tree orchard with grapes and a few field specimens. Many did not grow as expected, but some have grown quickly and still others have since grown over the past twenty years into nice images of graceful form in my small landscape.
The image of one who's branches are shown above, is from one of three Weeping Willows I planted near our pond a few years ago. I remember at the time my son immediately wanted to know when he could "'swing on its branches" and "drop into the pond" like a Tarzan of some sort. I told him it would be many years, likely long after I was gone, before that could be done. At that moment, I wished it as different, I wished I could somehow speed up the whole process and see his enjoyment of my efforts today with my own eyes, but I couldn't. Time and rain and sunshine and all the things that were needed for this tree to grow to that kind of size all lay many years ahead, I told him, that by planting this now, I was giving a gift to someone else...perhaps him and his children if he resided here but if not, someone else... but the joy for us today could truly be found in the gift.
I had harvested these trees from cuttings taken from a neighbor's dying tree a year or two before and lovingly rooted and planted them to continue this life. One of them since perished, but I once again have rooted more to replace it and hopefully will get them into the ground soon as I am able. This image today, I shot yesterday and as I am not yet able to see properly through the lens, sought to try something different and capture the sense of motion that was before me. I intentionally over exposed it to blur the lines and forms.
I love these Willows and their home in my yard. Over time, perhaps they will provide me with a measure of shade and I already enjoy it's swaying leaves blowing in the winds that travel from the North out my front window. They anchor the edge of the pond and give back some privacy, but the real joy in them now is the thought that someday... some young boy or girl... will do exactly as Hayden suggested and the legacy started that day with a shovel will all be complete. I can only hope. In planting, or sharing ones to others to plant, it is a wonderful hope as Lucy Larcom has said:.
"He who plants a tree... Plants a hope."
The following images I took around the yard today. The first is a Paper Birch detail, which I really like for the graphic nature of it. The second a White Clump Birch which reminds me of rough skin wound for some reason. The third again Paper Birch, in which I like the creaminess of the textures here and the forth of course, a White Birch whom seems to be set up to fence, something I have always wanted to try.
I had harvested these trees from cuttings taken from a neighbor's dying tree a year or two before and lovingly rooted and planted them to continue this life. One of them since perished, but I once again have rooted more to replace it and hopefully will get them into the ground soon as I am able. This image today, I shot yesterday and as I am not yet able to see properly through the lens, sought to try something different and capture the sense of motion that was before me. I intentionally over exposed it to blur the lines and forms.
I love these Willows and their home in my yard. Over time, perhaps they will provide me with a measure of shade and I already enjoy it's swaying leaves blowing in the winds that travel from the North out my front window. They anchor the edge of the pond and give back some privacy, but the real joy in them now is the thought that someday... some young boy or girl... will do exactly as Hayden suggested and the legacy started that day with a shovel will all be complete. I can only hope. In planting, or sharing ones to others to plant, it is a wonderful hope as Lucy Larcom has said:.
"He who plants a tree... Plants a hope."
The following images I took around the yard today. The first is a Paper Birch detail, which I really like for the graphic nature of it. The second a White Clump Birch which reminds me of rough skin wound for some reason. The third again Paper Birch, in which I like the creaminess of the textures here and the forth of course, a White Birch whom seems to be set up to fence, something I have always wanted to try.
"If a man walks in the woods for love of them half of each day, he is in danger of being regarded as a loafer. But if he spends his days as a speculator, shearing off those woods and making the earth bald before her time, he is deemed an industrious and enterprising citizen." ~ Henry David Thoreau
"The tree which moves some to tears of joy, is in the eyes of others only a green thing that stands in the way." ~ William Blake
