I love trees too! I do however want to caution people from taking trees from one area to another. I grew up in south Africa where Port Jacksons were imported from Australia. The trees have taken over and are now an invasive species. Even in that way, we need to respect the earth and not think we always know what is best.
If the species finds perfect conditions and has no enemies, it can take over because it bullies its way through. In the Western Cape for instance, pine trees have been planted among the indigenous plants. The vynbos needs uses fire in its cycle of regeneration. The pine trees trees however burn at a much higher temperature and are therefore destroying the indigenous bush – and this is not where a vacuum was created. I do agree that where a vacuum is created (i.e. mono-culture) we do have species invading and taking over. I do admire the work you do at the cottage and would love to see it with my own eyes too 🙂
The reality is that Man has hacked and burnt away the forests all over the world. Here in Ireland the EU is PAYING farmers to plant monoculture spruce as a cash crop. My land is the only land in the area planted with multi species and deciduous trees. but then i have not taken the 30 pieces of silver, because I care for Mother Earth…oh the irony!
I too grew up in a harsh environment, commission (council) area of Australia and dreamt of living within nature. Last property ( 5 acres)was completed transformed by my planting, our current property (20 acres) is on the way, unfortunately I wont be around to see it mature. My dream would be to plant out all the broad acre farming paddocks with mother nature and we go back to small food bowl farming. Just imagine the bird life if we did…. Utopia
My husband and I have fenced off approximately 3 acres from our other land and I have planted many trees and my husband has helped as well. But the trees are my passion. I grew up in London in a council flat and could never wait to get outside and play and climb a tree, regardless of my fear of heights. I emigrated to Australia in 1970 and am now 67 and only yesterday planted a dwarf red grapefruit tree in the second chook pen my husband built for me. They are quite big pens so need a bit of shade from the Australian sun. I hope to keep planting trees until I depart this planet.
I have just recently found your blog. Bealtaine Cottage looks like such a wonderful garden. We live on 13 acres of mostly White Pine and Balsam fir in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, USA. Be are working towards building a more permaculture based homestead here. Of course, the forest will remain forest as the wildlife claim it as home, as well they should. Thank you for being an inspiration for many.
I adore trees , but sadly my garden is not big enough for big trees, but I have got 3 fruit trees and have just bought a crabapple tree which is budding up nicely. I can’t wait to see the beautiful blossom. I get so excited when I see an email from Beltaine Cottage and get comfortable to read what’s going on. Thank you Colette xxx
Lovely!…I always said if I ever married ,I would marry a tree and when I die I would love to be placed beside a mossy log and become one with the forest Mother Earth again 🙂 ahh….peace love grow!
I’m currently nursing tiny cedar trees on the hill. I don’t own the land so have very limited say about what can be done but I will keep watering until the rains come back. I bought the house and lease the land but have a small forest behind me that won me over. I’m looking for a tree without invasive roots for the front. The last tree that was there was growing under the house and driveway and into the water lines. There is only 8 ft to the street so it must be compact. More research. I love that you are planting so many trees when so many are still clear cutting them down. ;(
Have you read “The Man who Planted Trees” by Jean Giono? a wonderful story about a man who saved the Durance valley in southern France by planting trees,between the first and second world wars.Do you read french ?
I don’t know if it has been translated.I’ll try and find a copy for you if it has .It was made into a wonderful animated film ,drawn in pastels ,about 25 +years ago narrated by Christopher Plummer.
A beautiful book. I read it in English. Can’t remember where I got it. One of my most precious. If you can’t find it, I could lend it to you.
(Assuming I can find it – moving house soon, and topsy turvy!).
trees bring a garden alive, love your photos every day…..i too have spent the last 10 years planting trees….now running out of space…..how many species do you think you have ?
The main trees planted are Birch, Oak, Sycamore, Beech, Maple, Alder, Rowan and Ash. Masses more ‘unusual ones’ and over 40 fruit trees. About 400-500 are grown from seed.
dear Colette, keep planting!
trees are such wonderful creatures and have so much to teach us…
(i have deactivated my twitter account on impulse today, but i shall be following you through this blog!)
I smile at the thought that I have planted cherry trees in every garden I’ve had, but barely had a cherry, due to the birds, particularly blackbirds, who will strip the whole tree bare. I have had the odd small pot of jam, so I can’t complain.
We currently have to balance the impulse to plant trees (always want more fruit trees) with the children’s desire to have an open grassy space to run around. Maybe later in life I’ll turn the lawn into an orchard…
Wow, 900 trees! How fabulous. I too love trees and am trying to find ways of planting more on my tiny plot. I love to look out of my window into their boughs and see the birds enjoying them too (sheltering, feeding and singing). The thought of a life without trees is unbearable to me. Keep up the good work! 🙂
Great work! May You be Blessed! Love and Regards. 🙂
Thanks so much X Colette
I love trees too! I do however want to caution people from taking trees from one area to another. I grew up in south Africa where Port Jacksons were imported from Australia. The trees have taken over and are now an invasive species. Even in that way, we need to respect the earth and not think we always know what is best.
It is my experience here at Bealtaine that we create vacuums where a species can invade, thus allowing a monoculture.
If the species finds perfect conditions and has no enemies, it can take over because it bullies its way through. In the Western Cape for instance, pine trees have been planted among the indigenous plants. The vynbos needs uses fire in its cycle of regeneration. The pine trees trees however burn at a much higher temperature and are therefore destroying the indigenous bush – and this is not where a vacuum was created. I do agree that where a vacuum is created (i.e. mono-culture) we do have species invading and taking over. I do admire the work you do at the cottage and would love to see it with my own eyes too 🙂
The reality is that Man has hacked and burnt away the forests all over the world. Here in Ireland the EU is PAYING farmers to plant monoculture spruce as a cash crop. My land is the only land in the area planted with multi species and deciduous trees. but then i have not taken the 30 pieces of silver, because I care for Mother Earth…oh the irony!
I too grew up in a harsh environment, commission (council) area of Australia and dreamt of living within nature. Last property ( 5 acres)was completed transformed by my planting, our current property (20 acres) is on the way, unfortunately I wont be around to see it mature. My dream would be to plant out all the broad acre farming paddocks with mother nature and we go back to small food bowl farming. Just imagine the bird life if we did…. Utopia
It all sounds wonderful and the generations to come will appreciate it I’m sure!
My husband and I have fenced off approximately 3 acres from our other land and I have planted many trees and my husband has helped as well. But the trees are my passion. I grew up in London in a council flat and could never wait to get outside and play and climb a tree, regardless of my fear of heights. I emigrated to Australia in 1970 and am now 67 and only yesterday planted a dwarf red grapefruit tree in the second chook pen my husband built for me. They are quite big pens so need a bit of shade from the Australian sun. I hope to keep planting trees until I depart this planet.
The very best approach to living a full and happy life…fuel your passion!
I have just recently found your blog. Bealtaine Cottage looks like such a wonderful garden. We live on 13 acres of mostly White Pine and Balsam fir in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, USA. Be are working towards building a more permaculture based homestead here. Of course, the forest will remain forest as the wildlife claim it as home, as well they should. Thank you for being an inspiration for many.
Blessings on your part of Eden…long may it be so!
you are a wonderful goddess of trees and the protector of all.
blessings
gail x
Bless you Gail XXX
I adore trees , but sadly my garden is not big enough for big trees, but I have got 3 fruit trees and have just bought a crabapple tree which is budding up nicely. I can’t wait to see the beautiful blossom. I get so excited when I see an email from Beltaine Cottage and get comfortable to read what’s going on. Thank you Colette xxx
Blessings X
Well done Colette, our world is better because of you and people like I suspect you have heard of Jadav Payeng but here’s an article just in case.
http://www.odditycentral.com/news/indian-man-single-handedly-plants-a-whole-forest.html
Lovely!…I always said if I ever married ,I would marry a tree and when I die I would love to be placed beside a mossy log and become one with the forest Mother Earth again 🙂 ahh….peace love grow!
Reblogged this on Bealtaine Cottage.
I’m currently nursing tiny cedar trees on the hill. I don’t own the land so have very limited say about what can be done but I will keep watering until the rains come back. I bought the house and lease the land but have a small forest behind me that won me over. I’m looking for a tree without invasive roots for the front. The last tree that was there was growing under the house and driveway and into the water lines. There is only 8 ft to the street so it must be compact. More research. I love that you are planting so many trees when so many are still clear cutting them down. ;(
I simply love trees and woodlands and forests!
Have you read “The Man who Planted Trees” by Jean Giono? a wonderful story about a man who saved the Durance valley in southern France by planting trees,between the first and second world wars.Do you read french ?
I haven’t read this, but will search it out in the local library. As for speaking French…sad to say I don’t.
Blessings X
Colette
I don’t know if it has been translated.I’ll try and find a copy for you if it has .It was made into a wonderful animated film ,drawn in pastels ,about 25 +years ago narrated by Christopher Plummer.
Thanks…I shall see if I can find it.
A beautiful book. I read it in English. Can’t remember where I got it. One of my most precious. If you can’t find it, I could lend it to you.
(Assuming I can find it – moving house soon, and topsy turvy!).
[…] The Woman Who Planted Trees (bealtainecottage.com) […]
Great post you have here!! I share your love of trees (and nature) Keep the good work!!
Thanks Fred! Welcome to Bealtaine Cottage!
trees bring a garden alive, love your photos every day…..i too have spent the last 10 years planting trees….now running out of space…..how many species do you think you have ?
The main trees planted are Birch, Oak, Sycamore, Beech, Maple, Alder, Rowan and Ash. Masses more ‘unusual ones’ and over 40 fruit trees. About 400-500 are grown from seed.
dear Colette, keep planting!
trees are such wonderful creatures and have so much to teach us…
(i have deactivated my twitter account on impulse today, but i shall be following you through this blog!)
Thanks Elena! I shall miss you on Twitter, but look forward to conversations at Bealtaine Cottage!
I smile at the thought that I have planted cherry trees in every garden I’ve had, but barely had a cherry, due to the birds, particularly blackbirds, who will strip the whole tree bare. I have had the odd small pot of jam, so I can’t complain.
I was told recently to keep Cherry trees, and in fact all fruit trees, at a height that is suitable for picking…my Cherry trees are at bird height! 🙂
We currently have to balance the impulse to plant trees (always want more fruit trees) with the children’s desire to have an open grassy space to run around. Maybe later in life I’ll turn the lawn into an orchard…
And don’t forget to plant two strong trees for that hammock for when the children fly the nest…think ahead!
Quite right!
Wow, 900 trees! How fabulous. I too love trees and am trying to find ways of planting more on my tiny plot. I love to look out of my window into their boughs and see the birds enjoying them too (sheltering, feeding and singing). The thought of a life without trees is unbearable to me. Keep up the good work! 🙂
W
You’re right, a life without trees would be hell!
I have planted trees in all the places I have lived.
Now, my dream is to extend Bealtaine Wood…