This past week I met a lovely elderly lady.
Her granddaughter was here with her to buy a tree to celebrate her 90th birthday. A tree for future generations to climb and swing from "the nanny tree" is what she would call it. They chose a red oak, a classic hardwood tree that will live upwards of 300 years.
This got me thinking about trees and how we have noticed that very few gardeners today come looking for trees to plant. Trees are not always instant gratification in gardening. They are more expensive than ornamental shrubs, roses, and perennials. They often are more difficult to transport. They require more effort to plant, a bigger hole to dig, and must be properly staked.
What we often forget about is what a tree provides for future generations. A well planted tree can help provide shade not only in your yard but also help cool your home, reduce air conditioning costs and act as a wind break. It provides a quiet place to have a picnic, read a book or you can hang a swing or build a fort.
Besides these obvious benefits, trees also contribute to the health of our planet. They clean the air by giving off oxygen, storing carbon, and recycling moisture into the atmosphere.
Trees have been on sale this week for 30% off and I would like to extend this sale for another week in hopes that a few of you who may be considering planting a tree might actually be enticed to do it.
Planting trees is not only a nice thing to do - it's one way each of us can help improve the environment. Tree planting is not difficult if you remember to follow the simplest step of all, keep the green side up!
