Sunday 20 April 2014

The magical apple tree.........

 Each year she seems to grow more tired.    A dressing of leaf mould and wood ash from the fire, seem to keep her going.   Old trees, like old people, can be inspiring.
 Life burns bright in them, whatever their handicap.
 Birds nest, insects hide and the hollow trunk holds so many secrets.    We can enjoy these special trees today largely thanks to the individuals, past and present, who have cared for them and ensured their survival.
        It takes only one person in the life of a tree to mutilate or destroy it.    I often wonder what will happen to her when it is my time to leave the garden...................

17 comments:

  1. What a lovely bittersweet post. I hope you and your apple tree both have many more years together.

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  2. Wonderful images of a knarled old trunk - The Magic Apple Tree is one of my favourite books.

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    1. Mine to Elaine.......the apple tree trunk is amazing, I am totally in awe of her.

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  3. You are lucky your apple tree persists. Our old apple tree is clearly on the demise. She didn't bloom this year. This makes me sad.

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    1. It would make me sad to Lisa. I had very few blooms last year but it would appear she is going to put on a huge display this year :)
      Perhaps your old girli is just having a rest ???

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  4. So lovely. My husband was going to prune our one remaining apple tree this weekend, but I convinced him not to do anything drastic. The trunk is hollow, and I'm afraid its days are numbered. But it is still a favorite of the birds, and I can't wait to see the apple blossoms soon.

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    1. I do prune our old tree but very lightly as I do not want to stress her too much.
      They are such treasures Rose, aren't they?

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  5. Hi Cheryl,

    How wonderful to see such an old tree, and for it to be loved so much by yourself.

    My dad happened again. The old apple and pear they had are both gone. His excuse this time was that it's too near the well and might damage it. Yes dad, if it was a young tree. But it's mature, and hasn't yet damaged it so why would it suddenly do so?
    Basically he just wanted rid of it. He promised to replace them with various fruits. To which I warned him he'd have to spend at least £100 per tree for a nice, reasonably large tree otherwise they'll be waiting at least 20 years before it's large enough to be called a tree.
    So he ignored me, they now have tiny little whips.

    Honestly, I don't know what else I can do. Short of buying the trees for them myself.

    I'd give my left arm to have all the trees they once had. Their garden is so depressing now. Mostly just lawn and nothing else. Unsurprisingly most of their birds have gone too.

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  6. Liz,
    Do you know, that really makes me so sad.....the only thing that lifts the story is knowing that you are there. For one so young, your love of all that grows and inhabits a garden, restores my faith.

    Lets hope that one day you inherit a large space and you can plant and plant to your hearts content....................:)

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  7. Blenheim Orange 1740......
    I am holding in my hand the pips from your Dear Apple tree. I treasure these tiny seeds. I treasure your friendship, and your sharing the heart of your gardens.
    My apple tree was taken down by a terrible ice storm in the early 1980's. I saved some of her wood. The rest we cut and gave to my Father some 30 years ago. He used the apple wood in his smoker. I remember the Easter ham he smoked with our apple wood. Memories of tress we loved....An Ash that was taken by a lighting strike, a Redbud by wind and Cedars washed out in a flood. Our stories of place.
    I too wonder who will love my gardens when my stewardship is over.
    I love your Apple tree....her blooms are precious. Her wood full of story.
    Lovely post. Thank you.

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    1. Hello my friend, How lovely you have time to visit.

      What wonderful stories you tell.....bless the trees.

      I too have wondered about your gardens....I know they hold your heart.



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  8. Trees such as this one are indeed treasures. When it is your time to leave the garden I do hope someone else will love and cherish this wonderful old tree.

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    1. That is my dream.....that someone will come here and understand the tree, the gardens, all that surrounds the house.

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  9. What a lovely, gnarled trunk this wonderful tree has. Apple tree blossom is so beautiful, too.

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    1. She is very old Wendy. I would like someday to ask the Woodland Trust to put an age on her.....as parts of the house date back to the Medieval period I wonder if she was planted as part of an orchard at this time.......

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  10. The first post of yours I read featured this beautiful apple. So glad to see her in full bloom. What a special tree.

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