We have this old sand pine standing in our upper yard. The builders wanted to cut it down back in March of '02 when they first started plotting out our home they were going to build us. I protested and insisted they work around the tree.
I am told Sand Pines traditionally grow straight up reaching for the sky but this old tree is like a gnarled old woman who has seen more than her share of history. Bending to the winds of Florida summers, sometimes breaking under the weight of the rains that come with the winds but always surviving to greet another dawn.
We built a fence around our property a few years ago and the process left the 'tree' on the outside of the fence where I could not see the beautiful base..so changes were made. My wonderful husband removed a couple of the fence post, rerouted the fence to go around the tree creating a lovely little nook for birds and other animals that visit my garden when I am not looking.
Then he cut several holes in the fence to accommodate the large limbs that were in the way and thus allowed my wonderful old lady to continue on her destiny.
Now she continues to stand tall, reaching for the sky and growing as she should with no interference from mankind. Though we may have to replace a section of fence or two before long.
Darlene, I so love love your reverence for her—she's so beautiful. You have a good man there, too, for him to help you take such good care of her. I'm just renting this little cottage I'm in, and am deeply grateful my landlord listened to me about the trees (he was going to take them out because they were dying) and he had an arborist come and remove the deadwood, so they have really been able to focus on creating new life from within. My parents had retired to a lake in Wisconsin in the late 80's and I used to go over to their little island and sit with nature and just listen. The trees talk. The earth speaks. Rocks had wisdom from eons ago. Hard to stay that open in a city environment though. I do the best I can and treasure my walks at the river here.
ReplyDeleteOh Lee, you speak of rocks having wisdom...I have always felt this way....Sometimes some people can't understand the feeling of 'just being present in nature'..We are kindred spirits.
DeleteLee - I wanted to share with you both a poem I wrote about Rocks at a retreat years ago as I was meditating on top of some giant boulders on my friend's ranch - your comment reminded me of it:
DeleteThe Rocks
by Christine Gautreaux
Oh strong one
Standing firm
Resting on Mother Earth
and basking in the Sun and Father Sky.
You are a shelter
Up above and down below
Your house is covered in
beautiful moss green carpet
welcoming generations upon generations
Watching time pass
Moment by moment
bearing the missteps of the two leggeds and the four leggeds
and the gale forces of mother nature
through it all remaining
who you are
Timeless.
Absolutely - the three of us have listened over the years. I feel as if I've known you both forever, and am feeling blessed to meet up with you again.
ReplyDeleteDarlene - I love you. Reading your blog makes my heart smile. I am so thankful for you and your wisdom and your grace and your knowing how important our sisters the trees are. Thank you for sharing your special tree with us - so looking forward to meeting her in person sometime soon!
ReplyDeleteDarlene, your story telling and photos are very moving. And seeing how you have cared for the tree is so illustrative of who you are. I love your blogging and what I am learning about you and life!
ReplyDelete