Of the living gymnosperms the conifers — pine, cedar, spruce, fir and redwood trees — are the most successful biologically. The needle-like leaves of these evergreens are well adapted to withstand hot summers, cold winters and the mechanical abrasion of storms. ~Claude Alvin Villee, Jr., American biologist and long-time teacher, Harvard University
Why
I felt
Compelled to
Check up on my
Tiny Tree after
A bitter snowstorm is
A myst’ry, but I did and
Voila! As you can plainly see,
He (or she) is growing and thriving
And celebrating its second birthday!
Tiny Tree is an Eastern Juniper.
Also known as red cedar, this tree
Measures forty-eight inches tall!
Who’d have given it a chance
To survive in such a
Harsh environment?
Somewhere below
Ground lies its
Bright red
Scarf!
Note: This poetry form is a Double Etheree.
Musings by an ND Domer's Mom 
Huzzah and hooray! It makes sense that it would have more of a chance than many of our trees — it’s designed for your climate! Beyond that, it clearly had a chance to develop some roots before being ‘insulted’ by that nasty weather. You should have a betting pool among your readers: name TT’s height in a year! The prize could be their very own etheree!
Linda, that’s a great idea! The problem, of course, is that Tiny Tree is growing so fast, I’m afraid I won’t be able to reach its top to measure it in another year’s time. Maybe I can climb on the old TV antenna? Let me think about it some more!
You don’t have to climb to the top. Geometry to the rescue. I think. If you know two sides of a triangle, you can calculate the third. Snag a line on top of the tree, secure it out on the ground a little distance from the tree, and you can calculate that third side: its height. Heck: there may be an app that can do that kind of measuring by this time!
Okay, I survived Geometry (but just barely), and I never thought I’d have to use it again. I see how you’re measuring, but if I decide to go through with your betting pool suggestion, you can bet I’ll be searching for an app first, ha!
Debbie, isn’t nature amazing? It can thrive through the harshest and most extreme conditions. Trees, especially, I’m in awe of. That’s why I try to spend time each week in our city parks, sitting by a tree. I actually feel more balanced afterwards.
Congrats on on the growth of your Eastern Juniper, and its second birthday. It’s beautiful!
And well done on your poem!
Have a super Sunday, my friend! X
Ron, I know how much you love trees — I do, too. And you’re so right, just being in their presence gives you a better sense of balance … and kind of imparts a confidence you may have been missing before.
If Tiny Tree keeps growing as it’s now doing, I might have to decorate it next Christmas! Nothing too heavy, of course, but perhaps some cheerful bows and nonbreakable ornaments.
Happy Sunday — we’re getting SNOW! xx
This is the one that was one the little guy with the red bow?
Yes, Frank, it’s my Tiny Tree! Can you believe how much it’s grown?? I can’t find the red scarf I tied around its truck so long ago — either it’s descended below ground, or some bird scooped it up for a nest. Either way, Tiny Tree doesn’t seem to mind, and I don’t either!
Oh, wonderful! Tiny tree, may you continue to thrive.
Thanks, Laurie. I hope so, too. I’m still not happy with its location, but no way am I moving it now. Besides, it probably knows more about where it can thrive than I do!
I’m so glad the tree is doing well. It says a lot about resilience, Debbie.
Indeed it does, especially with the up-and-down weather we’ve been having. Of course, it’s rather sheltered under the eaves of the house, so maybe that’s a plus, too.
That will help for sure.
It looks as though it’s doing really well!
It is!! Nice to see something thriving in all the yucky weather we’ve had, ha!
It is doing extremely well, it must be happy there!
I hope so, Eliza. I confess, I haven’t hovered over it one bit, so maybe that’s the key!
Benign neglect. 😀
That’s it! I suspect if I’d babied it, it would’ve bit the dust two years ago.
Goodness, not so tiny any more! Are you sure it’s not a triffid? I wonder what height it will grow to!
Aren’t those things carnivorous?? Tiny Tree never tries to eat me or Monkey when we go out to look at it! As for height, Eastern Juniper can grow quite tall in good soil, but who knows whether this is considered “good”?!
How inspiring, this tree of yours.
Miss A — are you back?? I’ve missed you, Poetess, and I’m hopping right over to catch up. Yes, Tiny Tree provides lots of inspiration!
Happy Birthday, Little Juniper Tree! My how you have grown and inspired a poet, too. 🙂
Aw, thank you, Barbara — it’s hard to believe this once was so tiny that I was able to tie a red string around its trunk!
I’m so glad your tree survived!
Me, too, Ann — fingers crossed, it continues to thrive.
What a lovely ode to your Tiny Tree. Happy birthday, Tiny Tree! May you live long, growing tall and strong. (We have a red cedar on our property that is at least 400 years old, given the girth of it.)
Four hundred years old? Wow, that’s certainly inspiration for Tiny Tree (not that I’ll be around 400 years to experience it, ha!) Maybe I should make a tiny plaque with its birth date (as well as I can guess) nearby so generations to come can appreciate it, too.