Consider
a tree for a moment.
As
beautiful as trees are to look at, we don't see what goes on
underground ~ as they grow roots. Trees must develop roots in order
to grow strong and produce their beauty. But we don't see the roots.
We just see and enjoy the beauty. In much the same way, what goes
on inside of us is like the roots of a tree. (Joyce Meyer)
“Mother Nature is
Always Speaking,”
wrote Radhanath Swami, after living as a wanderer in the Himalayan
foothills.
“She speaks in a language understood with the peaceful mind of the
sincere observer. Leopards, cobras, monkeys, rivers and trees. They
all served as my teachers.”
The “Joshua Tree” about
which I've recently written, lives and thrives uniquely in
California's Joshua Tree National Park, adjacent
to the Mojavi Desert. It reminded me of an entry sign at John Muir's
Redwood Forest near San Francisco: Advice From a Tree
(written by Ilan Shamir)
Stand Tall and Proud
Sink your roots deeply into the Earth
Reflect the light of a greater source
Think long-term
Many Trees 'Unique to Specific Locations in the World.'
Rainbow Eucalypcus (Pacific
Islands (Kauai); Dragon's Blood Trees (Socatra
Island, part of Yemen's territory due to the trees' red sap); Bamboo
Fronds (grasses) in Japan
and Hawaii; Angel Oak Tree (Charleston
area in South Carolina); Joshua Tree (Mojavi
Desert in California); Pakistan's
Spider Trees; Japanese Maples (Eastern
Asia); Giant Sequoias (California);
Tree Tunnel (Northern
Ireland).
Giant
Blobabs (Madagascar);
Dead Vlei Trees
(renamed Namib in the Namibian Desert); Blossom
Cherry Trees
(from the German city of Bonn to the guards of the Imperial Palace in
Tokyo and to District of Columbia's Basin marking the beginning of
spring); California's
Redwoods ~
which
are the tallest trees in the world growing along the Pacific coast
near the Bay area); Bristlecone Pine
in the American West; Ponderosa Pines
in Bryce Canyon, Utah; Blue Jacaranda
in the South Americas;
the
Banyan Trees
located in Hawaii and Zealand.
Canada's Tall Trees
The second-largest Douglas
Fir may have been found near
Port Renfrew standing alone in 'a clear-cut' on Vancouver Island ~
estimated 1,000 years old. Canada's largest and greatest is Cheewhat
Grant ~ a western cedar in a
remote location near Cheewhat Lake within the Pacific Rim
National Park (south-western
Vancouver Island). The tree measures 20 feet in trunk diameter...182
feet in height...450 feet regular telephone poles worth of wood. It
was discovered in 1988.
The Pacific Rim National Park
was created in1971.
Plant
Survives!
(and so can you and I in dire circumstances)
Little
House on the Prairie
(now on TV reruns), tells of a family surviving a hurricane in
Minnesota that destroyed their rural country home. Alphonso, the
husband, married to Laura, was injured and wheel-chair bound. His
hope for his family's future was doomed. Loving Laura, their baby
and his farm, he gave up hope of ever walking again...of not being a
responsible husband...of lacking the ability to reconstruct his
collapsed home. One day, he wheel-chaired over to his almost
demolished house... ...viewed the broken windows and doors (with the
semblance of 'what used to be')...and deriding himself with, “What's
the use of even trying to even rebuild my crippled life?”
“I
wanted to die ~ but now I need to live!”
With stunned amazement, he saw Laura's father attempting to assemble
the broken pieces. Considering his inabilities, he thought that any
resurrection to a 'living home' was impossible.
Unbelieving, he noticed a lonely 'alive green plant' which outlived
the hurricane:
green and flourishing at a basement corner, giving him the Will to
Live!
To Laura's father, he stated, “I wanted to die ~ but now I want to
live!”
With assistance, Alonzo managed to get out of his wheel-chair...
and standing, was able to saw lumber to begin his home restoration.
Like the Joshua Tree, we adapt to our environment ~ whether residing
in Canada's Northland or coping with the hot, humid summer days of
south-western Ontario. As for me, I choose a Canadian location with
pleasure to enjoy Nature's Gift of Four Seasons!
Waterdown
Sapling with Vimy Ridge Lineage Receives Heritage Label
Although published a year ago by Natalie Paddon from The Hamilton
Spectator,
this sapling of approximately 100 oaks were sent across the country
to commemorate soldiers in battle.
“A two-metre sapling that is a
direct descendant of the English oaks at Vimy Ridge is the only tree
in Hamilton to receive heritage designation. While planted on the
grounds of the Waterdown Legion only in June, the Vimy
Memorial Oak Tree is significant
because of its lineage. The fenced-in sapling is one of approximately
100 oaks sent across the country to commemorate the more than 10,000
Canadian casualties in the Battle of Vimy Ridge. The story of the
trees, stems from acorns collected by Canadian soldier, Leslie Miller
~ who died in1979 ~ sent them home. They were planted on his rural
Scarborough property, where they grew into a forest of oaks on land
now owned by the Scarborough 'Chinese Baptist Church. For the 100th
anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, efforts were made bygrafting
hundreds of branches from the tips of the trees to saplings of
English oaks from British Columbia. The work was done at Connon
Nurseries in West Flamborough in 2015.
Coun. Judy Partridge suggested putting the tree forward
for Heritage designation. “One hundred years from now, that
tree is going to be still standing and I believe it is important
that no one chops it down without adhering to the heritage
designation.”
“It has created a landscape in Flamborough that's going to
highlight
the military history for Canada. It's something that's leaving a
legacy.
“On the grounds of the Legion, a green wrought iron fence donated
by Versitch Industries Inc. encloses the tree to provide protection.
One acorn fell from it last fall.”
Chad Sugg advises: “Love the trees until their leaves
fall off ~
then encourage them to try again next year.
Chinese Proverbs: The best time to plant a tree is 20
years ago. The second best time is NOW!
Keep a green tree in your heart ~ and perhaps a singing bird will
come!
Wise words from Albert Einstein: Look deep into nature ~ then you
will understand everything better!
Written by Merle Baird-Kerr...March 13, 2018
Comments appreciated: mbairdkerr@cogeco
or inezkate@gmail.com
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