Camellias

Teach your children

what we have taught our children --

that the earth is our mother.

Whatever befalls the earth

befalls the sons and daughters of the earth.

I men spit upon the ground,

they spit upon themselves.

This we know.

The earth does not belong to us,

we belong to the earth.

This we know.

All things are connected

like the blood with unites on family.

All things are connected.

Whatever befalls the earth

befalls the sons and daughters of the earth.

We did not weave the web of life,

We are merely a strand in it.

Whatever we do to the web,

we do to ourselves.

                          

                                    CHIEF SEATTLE                                                                            

My late mother use to tell me of the lovely camellias to which she was introduced when she moved to Southern California from Iowa. Her descriptions were just so lovely as well as so foreign to someone living in Iowa.  So when I was first escorted to my first dance during junior high school I requested a camellia I could wear around my wrist.

While in Sebastopol for the Farmers Market, I dropped off books at the library. On either side of the walkway to the library entrance there are a number of camellia bushes. Some are in bloom while others only have flower buds.

I broke off a piece with a bud and open flower of one of the bushes. When I arrived back at my home, I placed it in a small milk jar. It now adorns my table where I eat most of my meals. 

When my late husband and and I moved to our house, the front yard had many camellia bushes. I advertised that camellia bushes were available for the taking. A gentleman responded and he came, dug them all up and planned to plant them in large pots. I was so grateful that someone was going to enjoy what I did not want. For those of you who follow this blog you are aware native plants have been planted (and are flourishing) in the front yard.

As I look outside there is a bit of blue sky and big puffy white clouds. The rain, for now, seems to have passed. Of course, more is predicted this week. All rain is relished since the moisture is so needed. 

 I wish for all of you, and myself as well, a hardy belly

Trees at Page Refuge in 2024

Consider the life of trees.

Aside from the axe, what trees acquire from man is inconsiderable.

What man may acquire from trees is immeasurable.

From their mute forms there flows a poise, in silence,

a lovely sound and motion in response to the wind.

What peace comes to those aware of the voice and bearings of trees!

Trees do not scream for attention.

A tree retains a deep serenity.

It establishes in the earth not only its root system but also

those roots of beauty and its unknown consciousness.

Sometimes one may sense a glisten of that consciousness,

and with perspective, feel that man is not necessarily

the highest form of life.

                            CEDRIC WRIGHT

At this time of winter here in Northern California, there is not much to be done outside in the garden. I do however wander about checking the trees for leaf buds. Of course, as you the reader can imaging, leaf buds are evident on all the trees including the fruit trees.

TREES

*denotes non native trees

*Acer pallmatum 'Summer Gold' (Yellow leaf Japanese 

            maple)                                    

Aesculus californica (California buckeye)

Cercis occidentalis (Western redbud)

*Chilopsis linearis (Desert willow)

The redbud and desert willow a
along the west side of the house.

Corylus cornuta ssp. californica (California hazel)

Pinus monophylla (Pinyon pine)

Umbellularia californica (California Bay)

*FRUIT TREES

Apple

Cox’s Orange Pippin

Pink Pearl 

Spitzenberg (Thomas Jefferson’s favorite apple)

The apple trees from closets
to the west fence
are listed above.

Lemon

Improved Meyer grows in the front yard.

Plum

Santa Rosa

This plum tree was here when we
bought the house. I have had it pruned however.

Forbearance

Trees in the winter lose their leaves. Some trees may even fall during storms, but most stand patiently and bear their fortune.

They endure rain, snow, wind, and cold. They bear the adornment of glycerin raindrops, glimmering icicles, or crowns of snow without care. They are not concerned when such lustrous splendor is dashed to the ground. They stand, and they wait, the power of their growth apparently dormant. But inside, a burgeoning is building imperceptibly. 

Theirs is the forbearance of being true to their inner natures. It is with this power that they withstand both the vicissitudes and adornment of life, for neither bad fortune nor good fortune will alter what they are. We should be the same way. We many have great fortune or bad, but we should patiently bear both. No matter what, we much always be true to our inner selves.

                                                                                 DENG MING-DAO

This picture was taken 
as we were packing up
our MuRefuge house
in preparation for our
Santa Fe, New Mexico relocation.

On this off again on again rainy day I have a hardy belly