Two of my many, (but definitely at the top of the list) thrilling times of year are fast approaching. First, next Thursday is my precious son George’s birthday… (someday I might tell you about his exciting arrival into this world) then, next Friday (April 27) will be this year’s Arbor Day!
If you have followed my blog for any length of time, you know how much I love Arbor Day. This year I am asking you to please consider adding a fruit or nut tree… or bush (maybe even two, if you are feeling daring) to your yard.
If you don’t have a yard, see if there is a city space where they will allow you to plant one.
Or, plant a tree or bush in a forest needing reforestation, in remembrance of someone you have loved and lost… be it a grandparent… a parent… a husband, wife, or partner… a favorite uncle or aunt… a child… or a friend, a very dear friend… There are many places to give a living memorial. Here are a few:
A Living Tribute
The Trees Remember
Trees for a Change
Hawaiian Legacy Reforestation Initiative (Example: we planted two trees here… one for our son David and one for our Joshie)
Not only is planting fruit and nut trees beneficial to the environment, but when you plant a fruit or nut tree, consider it a gift to your future self… in beauty, food source, air quality, and possibly sanctuary for our struggling songbirds and honey bees… As a bonus, trees provide shade (especially larger nut varieties), and are very often pretty.
Now some fruit and nut trees need more than one tree to pollinate, but there are self pollinating fruit and nut trees. Depending on your space, check with your nursery to see if the tree you have chosen is self pollinating or if you need to buy two or three trees to produce fruit or nuts. Just to make clear the difference:
Self-Pollinating trees do not need another tree to complete the pollination process. Most apricots, nectarines, peaches and sour cherries are typical examples of self-pollinating trees.
Pollinator Needing Trees… trees that need to be pollinated by another variety of that same fruit, but a different variety of that tree. Most apples, pears, plums and sweet cherries are typical examples of this type of tree.
If you have lots of room you might want to plant a persimmon tree. American persimmons can grow from Florida to Kansas and west… north to Connecticut, and thrive in grow hardiness zones 5 to 11. This deciduous tree grows as tall as 50 feet in height and produces medium-sized fruits that are bright orange in color. When allowed to properly ripen to a mushy state, the persimmon fruit has a soft texture and sweet flavor. Before ripeness, when solid, the fruit is sour to bitter and unappetizing. (As a child we had a persimmon tree in our back yard I loved to play under, but I never remember us enjoying its fruit. As an adult I have come to love the persimmon.)
Okay! You have a week to find a tree that you can plant or have planted in honor of a loved one… Friday, April 27 is Arbor Day. I thank each of you in advance for any trees you give an opportunity to grow and heal a tiny part of our planet
Please let us know, if and where, you planted your tree or bush…
