A Place for Trees

A maple at Merry Mount covered in snow

It has become that time of year when we turn our attention to Winter and celebrate the holiday season. 

As is the tradition in many homes around the world, it is time to bring a tree (most often an evergreen) into the house for decoration. So last weekend, Rett and I began our annual unpacking and decorating of our trees.  We are very blessed to have a space for three trees: one for the front room near the piano; one on the sun porch; and one in the great room.  Each one has a unique size and shape and is decorated with ornaments specific to the tree and its location.

According to history.com:

Long before the advent of Christianity, plants and trees that remained green all year had a special meaning for people in the winter. Just as people today decorate their homes during the festive season with pine, spruce, and fir trees, ancient peoples hung evergreen boughs over their doors and windows. In many countries it was believed that evergreens would keep away witches, ghosts, evil spirits, and illness.

As I sit here admiring the tree on the sun porch, I turn my attention to, and appreciation for, trees in general.  I refer you to:

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jul/04/planting-billions-trees-best-tackle-climate-crisis-scientists-canopy-emissions.

According to Damian Carrington in the article dated 7/4/19:

Planting billions of trees across the world is one of the biggest and cheapest ways of taking CO2 out of the atmosphere to tackle the climate crisis, according to scientists, who have made the first calculation of how many more trees could be planted without encroaching on crop land or urban areas.  As trees grow, they absorb and store the carbon dioxide emissions that are driving global heating. New research estimates that a worldwide planting program could remove two-thirds of all the emissions from human activities that remain in the atmosphere today, a figure the scientists describe as “mind-blowing”.

During 2019, Rett and I planted five trees and “saved” one of our river birch trees that had begun to split due to wind damage.  We are attempting to do our part to reduce climate change while admiring the beauty of the trees at Merry Mount.

Young Swamp Oak planted in 2019

Saved River Birch

Our beloved Willow

The Courtyard Maple

During this holiday season, let’s raise a glass to our trees and sing with gusto:

O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum, wie treu sind deine Blätter! Du grünst nicht nur zur Sommerzeit, Nein auch im Winter, wenn es schneit. O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum, wie treu sind deine Blätter!	O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, How steadfast are your branches! Your boughs are green in summer’s clime And through the snows of wintertime. O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, How steadfast are your branches!
O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum! Du kannst mir sehr gefallen! Wie oft hat nicht zur Weihnachtszeit Ein Baum von dir mich hoch erfreut! O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum! Du kannst mir sehr gefallen!	O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, What happiness befalls me when oft at joyous Christmas-time Your form inspires my song and rhyme. O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, What happiness befalls me
O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum! Dein Kleid will mich was lehren: Die Hoffnung und Beständigkeit Gibt Trost und Kraft zu jeder Zeit. O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum! Das soll dein Kleid mich lehren.	O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, Your boughs can teach a lesson That constant faith and hope sublime Lend strength and comfort through all time. O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, Your boughs can teach a lesson.

Hug a tree!

CPW