Ā As I walked around the yard, I looked around and saw many “green memories.” Plants and trees that have been with my family through the years…trees that were planted as small saplings and grew into beautiful giants that towered over us, danced in the wind, and warned us of the changing seasons…and oh the flowers! The little buds that smell the sweetest in their first blooms…even the bees dance with glee of the fruitful pollen that awaited them.Ā
Ā In the winter, when everything dies back and turns into a desolate sort of beauty…I begin to wonder at the intricacy of the bare branches…and ponder why some branches are destined to break, while others stay firmly attached to the thick trunk.Ā I asked God, “Why, do You spend time planning out every detail of each leaf and flower even though You know it will die and fall off in the end?”
God answered, “Because I enjoy its beauty while it is yet still living…no matter how short every leaf, branch, and flower’s time on earth is.”
Here are several “green memories” that I would like to share with you…
Oh, the good old silver maple. š I remember this tree being outside as long as my child memory can extend… Every spring I would sit near its trunk and watch the lady bugs come and lay their tiny yellow eggs all over it…they even squeezed out their eggs on my tire swing that was once upon one of the maple’s branches (I didn’t use my tire swing until the lady bugs hatched).
The trumpet flower, and oh boy, does it live up to its name! This flower can make a loud trumpet-like sound when you pinch its base together between your lips and blow (be careful to check for bees before sticking in your mouth!). š This noisy orange bloom was once climbing on our gazebo, but now is hidden on our side yard, peeking out at us when we walk further outback. These flowers make me think of my dad and how he taught my sis and I how to annoy our neighbors with its sound.
This purple beauty is newer to our yard and grows like a weed! Its flowers do not last long but don’t worry, just as soon as the old ones drop off, there are new splashes of purple to take its place. I think of my grandma ‘Nita, since she gave us these plants (she has the greenest thumb I ever knew of).
The orange tree leaf. š These ancient trees surprisingly have given us some oranges every year. I think of my sis and how we would put the orange peel between our teeth and lips to make it look like we had orange teeth. š I think every kid did this when they were young…hehe (I still do it).
The ivy…this green memory makes me think of our pug mix and how she would run through it when she was a puppy…Tula (yes, my sis named her pug after Tula from “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”), after going through the ivy like the chubby torpedo she is, would charge at my sis and I while we were sun bathing. Haha Good memories.
Mint…I will always think of my mother when I catch a whiff of this herb. š She loves mint anything…and there has always been mint right by our old silver maple.
This plant is special because it is called “Dusty Miller.” When my mom and I saw the name of this plant, we knew we had to get it. My brother’s name is Dusty; we bought this plant in memory of him.
And lastly…one of our Chinese pistachios that is already turning color! These trees that encase our pool, are always the first to tell us that there is hope for cooler weather, warm fall colors, and hot tea…
Hmmmm…I hope you enjoyed sharing your time with my green memories. š What plant/tree/shrub memories of your own are you thinking of now?
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