Day 3 - 120 -- Thinking of Trees

Today was Arbor Day in this part of the world -- a day to plant, care for and celebrate trees. I come from the prairies where trees are not as plentiful as they are where I live now -- in the middle of a forested part of the country. Locally, they aren't budding out yet, but on the way home this evening, we noticed that the magnolias are ready to burst forth in flower any day now. The bare tree branches hold many different birds that have returned from their winter sojourns south. Yard cleanup has been working to remove broken branches from the frozen slush storm of the past winter. I find it sad when we have to trim parts off a healthy tree after storm damage -- or worse, take down a whole tree.

We use trees as metaphors of strength, growth, home and family. Their endurance over years represents survival through the ups and downs of life. In the centennial year for Canada, grade school children were given tree seedlings to plant. In our town these were evergreens and houses around the city nurtured these tiny plants that grew into huge beautiful trees over the decades. Travels across Canada have taken me to places with different trees -- the boreal forest, Carolinian forest and temperate rain forest. We visited the giant redwoods in California -- those ancient trees were humbling, as were those in the rain forest of Cathedral Grove on Vancouver Island. When in London, I visited Berkeley Square which contained trees that are said to be the oldest in the city -- planted when London was just new centuries ago. While tree types are similar in shape, size and growth pattern, each has individual differences -- unique aspects that set it apart from others. The maples in my yard are of three varieties, but even the three that are the same variety have grown with slight differences. Each is a unique organism.

Choosing a song for today was a challenge. There are so many songs about trees or that mention trees that it took some thought. I chose two songs to share. The first is a poem put to music. The singer should be a familiar face, but the voice may surprise many <smile>. The second is a folk song performed here by a favourite group with amazing harmonies. Enjoy!

Trees -- Bob McGrath (Joyce Kilmer poem)

Lemon Tree -- Peter, Paul, and Mary