Whoever knows how
to speak to them;
Whoever knows how
to listen to them
can learn the
truth!
They do not preach
learning and precepts ~
they preach,
undeterred by principles,
the ancient Law of
Life.
(Hermann Hess)
Hamilton's Green
Canopy Decimated by July Storm
was the recent
Spectator's headline.
The massive July 19th
storm is proving to be a historic urban canopy killer that uprooted or maimed thousands of mature trees. “Residents have reported more than 3,500
badly damaged or toppled trees,” said environmentalist service director, Craig
Murdoch. “Hundreds were likely killed,” Murdoch said. “It will take months to
determine how many supposed survivors
are actually dead wood standing.”
The colour picture
taken from Sydenham Hill says,
“So much to
offer...and so much to lose!”
Vignettes
Impression of Trees: A few years ago, Pablo and Patricia
immigrated to Canada from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Having previously visited
our country, they were awesomely impressed with our Lake and Bay, our
escarpment, rolling hills, trees and wildlife.
Their first dwelling was an apartment along Lakeshore Road. Although, not lakeside, they were thrilled to
see trees, trees, tress that seemed to totally carpet the rooftops of houses
and the panoramic view as their eyes rose northward to the escarpment's edge
near Mount Nemo, Rattlesnake Point and Highway 6 as it winds toward
Guelph. To them, this was Nature's
Heaven! With secured jobs, in a couple years, they bought a home in
Dundas...again in a treed escarpment setting with easy access to local
waterfalls and Dundas Valley.
Country Christmas: I recall going with my father to the
woods on our farm to select an evergreen tree for the festive season. A beautiful blue spruce, he felled and placed
it on the toboggan with me as a 4-year old child. The fresh tree scent...the drifting foot-deep
snow...the crisp winter air was all conducive to this happy experience. My mother served us fresh hot tomato soup and
cocoa. Together we set up the tree in a
pail of water...decorated it with home-crafted ornaments, garlands of red
berries and candles. (Today, I reflect
on the thousands of trees that “die” to adorn our homes and shoppes!)
A Living Gift: We had wonderful neighbours on
Middlesmoor Crescent in Brant Hills.
Next door were Brian and Catharine who had a little girl. Unfortunately, she developed a rare disease
which could not be determined or medicated.
It was a sorrowful event when she died.
The tradition (as today) is to send flowers to the funeral home or
directly to the family. Flowers, though
beautiful...die! My family opted to
purchase an evergreen tree (not deciduous...the leaves “die” when Jack Frost
arrives). It was a stately white pine to
plant in their garden. The family was
emotionally touched and most grateful for
this most thoughtful gift, which to them, was a constant “view of their
precious little girl.” We were thrilled,
when a couple years later, a son to them was born!
Caution, Endangered Tree Ahead
stated the Hamilton Spectator.
Currently there is a huge hubbub about Butternut Tree #907 along
the Queen Street Hill. A couple mountain
accesses in Hamilton have been closed due to necessary road repair and fallen
rock from the escarpment wall. This Butternut Tree is making drivers see
RED in traffic jams due to a couple accesses being closed! Matthew Van Dongen writes, “It's tempting to
think cutting thoughts about Tree #907. The single endangered butternut tree is at
the root of the month-plus-delay in $4.3 million dollars worth of
reconstruction work on the Queen
Street hill, which usually ushers 20,000 daily
commuters up and down the Mountain. But
look on the bright side. A new report
reveals the city spent a month tip-toeing around Tree #907 after a 'health
assessment' found the tree showed resistance to butternut canker...a fungus
that is wiping out the native tree species”
A nation that
destroys the soils... destroys itself.
Forests are the
lungs of our land …
purifying the air
and giving fresh strength to our people.
(Franklin D.
Roosevelt)
In the healthy reality of
protecting our trees, it behooves ALL OF US to observe and preserve the life of
trees...allowing them to propagate and provide safe undergrowth for future
years!
Dedicate a Tree (in honour
or memory of someone): A long-time
friend, Jill, experienced the death of her son, Stephen (the only son of 4
children). He was born “brilliant” with
a unique intelligence. At Lord Elgin High School (now renamed Robert Bateman), he was honoured with the presentation of the
Sir Isaac Newton Award of Merit for his Physics and Science achievement (rated
in the top 5% academically in Ontario).
It was common for him to have
“out of body experiences” (OBE). Some
scientists consider OBE as evidence that a soul, spirit or body can detach
itself from the physical body and visit
distant locations.
One in ten people has an OBE once or more in his/her life.
Professionally, he, was a Systems
Analyst for the Royal Bank in Toronto;
he also successfully created, with a partner, their own computer software
company.
At age 32, cancer struck him ~
yet he was determined to overcome it!
His brilliant mind controlled the severe pain he suffered as the disease
ravished his entire body. He once stated
to his mother:
“Living on this Earth
is an Illusion.
Death is Reality!”
September 12, 2013 is
the 19th Anniversary of his death.
Since a small boy, Jill's family
organized a family picnic at Lowville Park.
Even still today, the picnic is yearly held with many family members
enjoying Mother Nature's beauty of the trees, the pavilion, sports fields and the meandering of Bronte Creek winding
and flowing its way to Lake Ontario.
To commemorate his life, she
requested from the Parks & Recreation Department...a tree to be planted in Spencer
Smith Park (he was born at nearby Joseph Brant Hospital in 1961) and Lowville
Park. At the latter location, his tree
may have been the first one planted in front of the old school house within the
Park in memory of his death. She
selected a Red Maple...about 3 feet high...which today is a mature beautifully
branched tree. A similar tree was planted at Spencer Smith Park...which on her
nature walks, she frequently visits. At each location a plaque was installed
with the following inscription:
STEPHEN SORENSEN
1961-1994
His courage,
intelligence and spirit
will always be
remembered.
The plaque in Lowville is mounted
on a rock. When the Sorensen family
arrives for their annual picnic they discover flowers strewn around the plaque
to honour Stephen through his living tree!
On each anniversary, he is included in their celebration ~ a toast being
made in their memories of him!
Of Interest: One of his sisters, dreamed about him two
weeks following his death. He was angry because the newspaper had printed his obituary. She commented to him in her dream, “But you
did die!” He responded to her, “My
brain is still alive!”
Today, at lunch, Jill
and I (both with emotional tears)
recalled this sudden
event that “stole him from her family.”
“Why?” we ask. “Only
God knows!”
Perhaps Albert
Einstein's words say it best:
Look deep into
Nature...
and you will
understand everything better.
And to you, Jill, I
dedicate this Chinese Proverb:
Keep a green tree
in your heart...
and perhaps a singing bird will come.
Merle Baird-Kerr …
crafted August 18, 2013
To comment...scroll
down...may sign in as “anonymous”
or e-mail...inezkate@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment