Thursday, August 11, 2005
The Ginkgo Tree
I have a baby Ginkgo Tree growing in a cup in my kitchen window. It's been sitting there for two months now, neither growing nor dying, just sitting idle waiting to see what's going to happen to it next. It's been too hot to put it outside, I want to give it the best chance at life since it's come this far ...
Driving home from the Vet's office earlier, I was thinking about it's parent tree. (Little Sproutling Ginkgo doesnt have a name yet, btw.)
Back in June when I went home to St.Louis, I was strolling around my parents back yard. I was smiling at the Tulip Trees, whose tulip flower petals were really OUCHY to walk on barefoot but made good "needles" when we had to give each other shots (they have a pointy bit) before going on a safari hunt, or to save each other's lives.
The Red Oak that my brother planted in 4th Grade, that for the longest time, grew at the same rate as I did! I was so pleased that we were growing up together. I must have been about 8. I checked my height against it on this trip... it won the growing contest. d;) Actually, my Dad made me a 'walking/hiking stick' out of one of the branches of it several years ago.
There was the Maple Tree, the Weeping Willow (now gone - hit by lightning), the pine that I had my clubhouse under with anything I could find during 'trash pickup week' or during yard sales, the Lilac bushes ...
The rose bushes down by the swing in the far left corner. The roses were always overgrown and we were always getting thorn scratches as we jumped off the swing. I wonder how many times I said "OW" because of it and then went back and did it again. *laugh*
As I was wandering the yard, I remembered the bushes and trees in other neighbor's yards ... and here's where we get to the Ginkgo Tree. If you cross down past the swing in to the neighbor behind's yard, they had planted a Ginkgo Tree. It was never very big ... no bigger than a shrub ... but it was fun playing with it's leaves. They were so unique! The neighbors who lived there, we called "Aunt Mary and Aunt Frances" ... two elderly sisters who just adored us kids for some crazy reason.
Anyway, I went to look for the tree ... whoever lives there now let the yard get all overgrown ... my parents dont know the family's name. There were weeds and brushes and sprouts and shrubs ... I was looking for something about the height of what I remembered. I couldnt find it, and felt a lot of sadness that it was gone. I came back to the swing, just to make sure I had my bearing right ... pushed my way thru the weeds ... but this huge TREE kept getting in my way!
"How'd this get here? What kind is it?" I thought, as I followed the trunk upward, looking for some sign of what kind of tree it was. I didnt remember a tree that mature being in that exact spot. I almost fell on my butt when I saw Ginkgo leaves on a branch about 15 feet up. My little shrub had grown up (and up and up)! I had always thought they stayed small ... guess not! *laugh*
I went in to tell my Dad about my discovery, and he laughed at my shock. He also told me that if I'd looked LOWER to the ground, I would have seen dozens of little baby ginkgo sproutlings growing all around it. I got distracted the rest of the day trying to fix my parents' computer (my chore every time I go to their house), so Dad dug me up one to bring home.
So the little Sprout came home in the car with us ... Bailey and I ... and a cup full of 'Lily of the Valley' pips that I wanted to transplant in to an area of my front yard where I have some growing.
Driving home from the Vet's office earlier, I was thinking about it's parent tree. (Little Sproutling Ginkgo doesnt have a name yet, btw.)
Back in June when I went home to St.Louis, I was strolling around my parents back yard. I was smiling at the Tulip Trees, whose tulip flower petals were really OUCHY to walk on barefoot but made good "needles" when we had to give each other shots (they have a pointy bit) before going on a safari hunt, or to save each other's lives.
The Red Oak that my brother planted in 4th Grade, that for the longest time, grew at the same rate as I did! I was so pleased that we were growing up together. I must have been about 8. I checked my height against it on this trip... it won the growing contest. d;) Actually, my Dad made me a 'walking/hiking stick' out of one of the branches of it several years ago.
There was the Maple Tree, the Weeping Willow (now gone - hit by lightning), the pine that I had my clubhouse under with anything I could find during 'trash pickup week' or during yard sales, the Lilac bushes ...
The rose bushes down by the swing in the far left corner. The roses were always overgrown and we were always getting thorn scratches as we jumped off the swing. I wonder how many times I said "OW" because of it and then went back and did it again. *laugh*
As I was wandering the yard, I remembered the bushes and trees in other neighbor's yards ... and here's where we get to the Ginkgo Tree. If you cross down past the swing in to the neighbor behind's yard, they had planted a Ginkgo Tree. It was never very big ... no bigger than a shrub ... but it was fun playing with it's leaves. They were so unique! The neighbors who lived there, we called "Aunt Mary and Aunt Frances" ... two elderly sisters who just adored us kids for some crazy reason.
Anyway, I went to look for the tree ... whoever lives there now let the yard get all overgrown ... my parents dont know the family's name. There were weeds and brushes and sprouts and shrubs ... I was looking for something about the height of what I remembered. I couldnt find it, and felt a lot of sadness that it was gone. I came back to the swing, just to make sure I had my bearing right ... pushed my way thru the weeds ... but this huge TREE kept getting in my way!
"How'd this get here? What kind is it?" I thought, as I followed the trunk upward, looking for some sign of what kind of tree it was. I didnt remember a tree that mature being in that exact spot. I almost fell on my butt when I saw Ginkgo leaves on a branch about 15 feet up. My little shrub had grown up (and up and up)! I had always thought they stayed small ... guess not! *laugh*
I went in to tell my Dad about my discovery, and he laughed at my shock. He also told me that if I'd looked LOWER to the ground, I would have seen dozens of little baby ginkgo sproutlings growing all around it. I got distracted the rest of the day trying to fix my parents' computer (my chore every time I go to their house), so Dad dug me up one to bring home.
So the little Sprout came home in the car with us ... Bailey and I ... and a cup full of 'Lily of the Valley' pips that I wanted to transplant in to an area of my front yard where I have some growing.
# posted by Elims @ 6:10 PM 
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Totally missed this post earlier. Distracted by your neighborly ..shenanigans..
Any idea where you'll plant when it gets cooler out? Or do you think you'll baby Sproutling til next spring? see if you can coax him/her to grow some more before transplanting.
Any idea where you'll plant when it gets cooler out? Or do you think you'll baby Sproutling til next spring? see if you can coax him/her to grow some more before transplanting.
I havent decided yet ... I need to research where it'll have the best chance of life, in this different 'region', different soil, etc... if it likes shade, sun, etc. I'd LIKE to keep him in a pot thru the winter, but again Dad-the-practical has said 'If the plant doesnt make it, there are plenty more where it came from ... we can bring you out another when we drive out to Myrtle Beach in January ... ' *laugh* Parents have never understood my need to keep living things ALIVE!!!
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