Forsythia

"A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in."~Greek Proverb~

My green thumb needs polishing and physically gardening is not something I'm able to do a lot of. But gardeners plant for more than themselves. When we moved here my heart was thrilled to find a previous gardener had left a very nice yard, landscaped and planted to enjoy all year. 

Forsythia is something that I've loved for-EVER, but never personally had. Well...obviously I do now. My neighbor was quite insistent with the landlord that the bush not be trimmed. She is an avid gardener. I am grateful for her request every day. This bush is shelter for so many birds. I have been amazed at the variety and number of birds in my backyard. For now I can't have pets, so I feed the birds...and several squirrels who help themselves. 

This explosion of cheerful sunshine in flowers is definitely a thing to count as joy. 

The Heart of the Tree

WHAT does he plant who plants a tree?

 He plants a friend of sun and sky;

He plants the flag of breezes free;

The shaft of beauty, towering high. 

He plants a home to heaven anigh

For song and mother-croon of bird

In hushed and happy twilight heard --

The treble of heaven's harmony --

These things he plants who plants a tree.

What does he plant who plants a tree?

He plants cool shade and tender rain,

And seed and bud of days to be,

And years that fade and flush again;

He plants the glory of the plain;

He plants the forest's heritage;

The harvest of a coming age;

They joy that unborn eyes shall see --

These things he plants who plants a tree.

What does he plant who plants a tree?

He plants, in sap and leaf and wood,

In love of home and loyalty

And far-cast thought of civic good --

His blessing on the neighborhood

Who in the hollow of His hand

Holds all the growth of all our land --

A nation's growth from sea to sea

Stirs in his heart who plants a tree.

Henry Cuyler Bunner