The Hope of Trees

Catalpa in Bloom -- Cobourg Ontario

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, 
the conviction of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:1 (NRSV)

Am I a fan of going to crowded public beaches on a hot summer day? Nope. Do I love my grandchildren and want to spend time with them and the rest of our family? Absolutely. So, we gathered Saturday morning in Cobourg, on the shore of what proved to be an intensely cold Lake Ontario -- it was ocean frigid! The three grandkids, who are 2, 4, and 6 (ish) had a great time in the sand and the water.

Then we moved away from the water and under the shelter of a large maple tree to enjoy our potluck lunch. There the temperature was moderate and there was a slight breeze. Children were lifted up to try hanging from the branches. It was wonderful. 

While we were eating Ruth pointed to another tree across the lawn which was in glorious bloom. Was it a Catalpa or Chesnut, we wondered. It turned out to a huge Catalpa which was late-blooming, perhaps because of proximity to a cold body of water. I stood beneath its canopy and revelled in its beauty. 

We've heard lately that there is enough land on planet Earth to plant a trillion trees, which would be hugely helpful in counteracting the effects of climate change. This seems daunting, but Diana Beresford Kroeger, the Canadian scientist who has written on trees and is the host for the documentary Call of the Forest: The Forgotten Wisdom of Trees, She encourages each of us to plant a tree each year as a way of achieving this goal. 

Planting trees is uplifting, in every sense of the term. We planted a cherry tree when we moved to Belleville home six years ago. It has tripled in size, but no cherries...until this year! We managed to get to a modest crop before the robins took over, and were so pleased with the outcome. And, hey, robins gotta eat. 

Recently we planted some seeds from a grand American Elm in Trenton, one of the few survivors of the devastating Dutch Elm Disease. Several have germinated,  and while we won't see these trees grow to maturity, or even close, we do this as an act of hope for our grandchildren's generation and beyond. It is also an act of faith, as we choose to be stewards of Creation in all the ways we can. 



American Elm Seedlings