Trees have been on my mind. I’ve been noticing them as I drive through the neighborhoods of Sanpete.

A couple of weeks ago, I planted three trees. I removed a dead peach tree and replaced it. That event about gave me a stroke or some sort of cardiac event. My body isn’t used to that kind of difficult digging, chopping of roots, and the wrestling down of a withered, stubborn, old tree.

I also planted a second peach tree in place of one that I had planted about 3 years ago. That tree at least had the decency to die without growing to a size that removing it would be one of the tasks of Hercules.

The third tree I planted was a maple tree – a John Pair Maple, to be exact. I’m sure you’ve heard of renowned horticulturist Dr. John Pair. (I hadn’t) He was associated with the hybridization of this maple tree at Kansas State University.

The tree supposedly has characteristics which it will need to survive in my yard. Drought-tolerant – check. Relatively low maintenance – check. Heat tolerant – check. Resistant to cold, disease and insects – check. Deer resistant – unknown! Great, oh well, I guess we’ll pray for the tree to survive.

Growing trees in my yard is a crap shoot. It’s about a 50/50 proposition at best. It seems like all kinds of things can go wrong.

I know that the poet Joyce Kilmer famously wrote that “only God can make a tree.” But deer, disease, blight, old age, wind, children, rocks and bugs can “unmake” a tree.

I actually memorized that short poem recently while walking the wonder dog Archer. Archer prompts me when I’m stuck on remembering the lines of a poem. He looks at me intently and I remember the line (sometimes).

I recited that “Trees” poem recently to a couple of ladies in an office. They remarked that it sounded really quite sensuous. (I’m sure it must have been my delivery)

Since the poem is in the “public domain” and it’s all right to publish it here, I’d like to add some “sensuousness” to this column this time. Here goes:

“Trees” by Joyce Kilmer (a male named Joyce – FYI)

I think that I shall never see

A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest

Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,

And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in summer wear

A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;

Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,

But only God can make a tree.

Trees are valuable assets. And like many investments they take long periods of time to develop and mature. Our yards, neighborhoods and communities are more beautiful when there are trees in the landscape. They enhance the value of property and have many other practical benefits.

Maybe you’ve heard the saying, “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now.”

That reminds me of what my son told me about his former boss. The boss said, “If I don’t give you a time schedule on getting a task done, you can assume that the best time to do it is now.”

An ancient Greek proverb says, “A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.”

On the lighter side, there’s an Irish birthday toast that you may have heard, “We drink to your coffin. May it be built from the wood of a hundred-year-old oak tree that I shall plant tomorrow.”

I like the story about the two city employees who were going along the side of a street. One guy was laboriously digging holes and the other guy was coming along behind him filling in the holes. A bewildered observer approached the workers and asked what in the world they were doing. They answered, “Well, normally we’re a three-man crew; but the guy who puts the trees in the holes is sick today.”

Government and its workers are always easy targets for jokes. Unfortunately, sometimes there is some substance behind the ribbing. However, I have to say that when it comes to trees, many of our Sanpete towns are very good at maintaining our parks and public areas with beautiful and well-maintained trees.

I encountered what I can only think of as a “tree mystery” last Sunday. As I entered my church house, I looked down on the cement at the right-hand side of the door and there were three beautiful, red, maple leaves and one nice looking oak leaf. Here’s what makes that remarkable and mysterious. I don’t know of any maple or oak trees in the area. I took a picture of the leaves.

What made it more baffling was that I noticed two maple leaves and one oak leaf on the other side of the door. Weird.

I have two theories as the solution to the mystery. 1) Wind – unlikely 2) Someone is wishing the church and those who enter “good luck.” — more likely.

Maple and oak trees have been given mythical attributes that I would say are positive and lucky. We all need good luck and positivity.

Let’s enjoy and appreciate our trees. Let’s develop gratitude for those who planted trees years ago for our benefit. Consider planting a new tree — if not for yourself, for your kids or someone you love. — Merrill

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