Teeny, Tiny Tree

  I have this weird sense of curiosity when it comes to my surroundings.  I want to see the "unseeable". I want to find out how things of nature "work".  I blame my granddad for this as he was always stressing the idea that I should observe everything around me.  "You never know just what might be under a rock or hiding on a leaf.  Make sure you actually see what you are looking at and make sure you look at what you see." Good advice since a lot of folks can go through an entire day without ever seeing what is under their own feet!  

  Michael and I were busy hauling plants into the greenhouse in preparation of the wintry weather.  One of the large pots held several small shoots of an Aloe plant that I was rooting.  Aloe is one of the plants that I deem as a necessary part of the herb garden so I made sure to protect each one.  This one, however, had a tiny addition to the pot.  Evidently a seed from a pine cone had fallen in beside the Aloe shoots.  In one corner a sprig of green was being bowed over by a winged seed.   The wee, little pine tree could not even support the very thing giving it life.  Aww, poor little tree!

  Now, I should have pulled the miniature tree from the pot.  I do not need more pine trees in the yard and it surely should not stay in the pot!  Looking at that tree fighting for a chance at life made me feel guilty about ripping it out by the roots.  How sad.  If we went around pulling out and discarding every  tiny sprout, soon there will be no trees.  Yep, a two inch tall wisp of a tree tugged at heartstrings.  The tree will be given a chance.  Tomorrow, the tiny tree will be transplanted into its very own pot and eventually will find a home in the woods near the creek.  I guess one more pine tree cannot hurt.  After all, we lost three to lightning strikes earlier this year.  Perhaps this one will be a fine replacement of one of those.  Just think.  If Granddad had not stressed the fact of being observant, I may not have ever noticed the little tree.  With that observation, a tree shall live.  Thanks, Granddad! At least some of the lessons you tried to teach me are still being used!