Green Group discussion

What's your favourite literary tree?

In Ireland we are being asked to mention our favourite from Irish lit.

https://www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2022/08...

"A new research project Literature and Ireland’s Trees is looking to build a popular archive about the tree in Irish writing and culture. We want to know about your favourite literary tree – in Gaelic or English, in any genre or literary period. What type of tree is it? How does the literary work make it memorable?

The aim is to identify how trees connect with us through memory and story. Doing so is more vital now than ever before as we see forest fires across Europe and as the Irish government plans large-scale tree planting as part of its climate action strategy. In times like these, to echo the poet Adrienne Rich, we must listen to "and talk about the trees""

https://www.litliteratureandirelandst...

We've discussed the derecho events in other threads. One good outcome is that this writer met a neighbour, who helped her with plotting. Great story in itself. Thanks to Sandy Rideout who is also Ellen Riggs


"On the May long weekend, a very severe wind storm called a derecho left devastation in its wake. We had stayed home, but neighbors told me it sounded like a freight train passing overhead. Thousands upon thousands of trees toppled, a couple of hundred across the trails I love.

I gave it a good try, clambering over a ton of fallen trees with the dogs and then found a relatively clear half-mile stretch. We pretty much walked back and forth on that stretch for the rest of the summer.

In all my years of trespassing on the property, I’d never met the owner. In truth, I’d evaded him a few times by plunging into the woods early when I saw his truck. I thought I might get kicked out, you see. If I’m told no, I listen. So the key was to avoid the telling.

One hot day in July, he was blocking the exit with his truck and I prepared for the worst.

As it turned out, “Jimmy” and I hit it off immediately. The great news was that Jimmy loves it when people enjoy the trails he’s carved out of the woods as part of his “forestry management” work. Before the derecho changed the landscape, that meant selectively removing trees. The best wood goes to the mill and is worth good money. The rest becomes firewood.

Being the curious type (AKA nosy), I asked Jimmy a ton of questions about how forestry management works and took a little tour of the machines. The dogs roamed around and ate wood chips, before reclining in the shade to wait.

When I saw the friendly woodsman a few days later, the writerly wheels were turning. “Jimmy,” I said, “if someone were to be murdered on a wood lot… how would it happen?”

His genial smile vanished and I realized I should have warmed up to that question before firing. I guess I got caught up in the plotting moment.

He picked up a rake, perhaps to fend me off, while I hastily explained what I do for a living.

It wasn’t enough to put him at ease, so I shuffled off with the dogs, knowing I would very likely become dinner table conversation. I’m a member of the local Facebook group and know well that they describe people like me as “citiots” (city + idiot).

Now I was a murderous citiot.

But you know what? A few days later, I saw Jimmy again and he was beaming. He’d come up with a tailor-made homicide for me. Turning off his loud tree-eating machine, he leaned casually against it and helped me work out the details. Normally, I need to do a fair bit of research online, so it was a rare treat to pelt questions at a real expert. I love learning and totally geeked out on forestry stuff, later boring my mom and Mr. Tech.

The book cover design arrived in short order and when I showed the image to Jimmy, he laughed. A few weeks later, he invited me to a family cookout at the wood lot and I nearly went… but I had a vague worry the citiot would be the one getting grilled."

Clare wrote: "What's your favourite literary tree?..."
Here in Aotearoa we have the mighty Kauri tree, some of whom were living when Christ was alive.
From the tree spirit wisdom website:
"A giant kauri tree called Tane Mahuta, or “Lord of the Forest” is estimated to be between 1,250 to 2,500 years old. In the Maori creation myth, Tane Mahuta is the son of Ranginui the sky father and Papatuanuka the earth mother who embraced each other so tightly that their children struggled to grow. Eventually Tane summoned his inner strength and separated his father from his mother to create enough space for the light to shine in. He held this space open until his mother was clothed in flora and fauna. The birds and animals became his children. This story of the kauri’s spirit exemplifies the importance of creating space for life to grow."
Tane Mahuta is a short drive from my home.
See a photo of Tane Mahuta, the tree himself here:
https://treespiritwisdom.com/tree-spi...

Here is "Birches" by Robert Frost:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGO8S...

Film literature counts for this topic I believe.

Sad news that a handsome mature Sycamore tree was felled in a vandalism act by what appears to have been a youth. The tree in question stood at Sycamore Gap in Hadrian's Wall, and had featured in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.

https://www.rte.ie/news/uk/2023/0928/...

Yes, I saw that. It’s sad that it wasn’t allowed to stand. Such a beautiful tree.

Nice orchard story.

An Amish Widow's Promise by Winnie Griggs