Some trees are not just trees. They are stories and memories and markers.
These two catalpas were given to me as tiny seedlings by a dear gardening friend.
Our children started this shade master locust from seed about 23 years ago.
For our 25th Wedding anniversary in 2008, we gave all the guests tiny blue spruce seedlings. These were some extras we had that survived. The first 9 or 10 years seem quite slow, but then growth is exponential, and these have really taken off in the last few years.
I started this star magnolia from seed over 20 years ago. I think it took 9 years to bloom, with about 13 blooms the first year. A big piece of the willow tree came down and sheared nearly half of it off one year, but it has recovered nicely.
When our children’s school celebrated in 2000, they gave out pine seedlings. Great tree for Christmas greens.
For several years, we were able to receive free trees from the township. They were bare root, six foot sticks, usually maple of some sort. We got a couple of crimson maples for colour, and this red maple, which is just ablaze with colour in the fall.
Two cedars my parents had in pots, and they needed a home.
Over the years we have watched our tiny trees grow into maturity, giving shade, and colour, beauty and life to the garden. Each one has a special place and purpose in the garden, adding to the stories and memories.