by Cheryl, Gulf Coast Poet

Plant a Tree

Triple Pygmy Date Palm, Photo by Cheryl Batavia

“I think that I shall never see

A poem as lovely as a tree.”

__ Joyce Kilmer

Plant a Tree

Beauty to delight,

oxygen to sustain life.

Watching trees growing.

Plant a young tree for Earth Day…

Receive nature’s gifts for life!

Copyright© 2021 by Cheryl Batavia

With our allergies and our declining energy levels in mind, we re-landscaped our front entrance, hiring landscapers to do the heavy work. The palm tree’s expected ultimate height is 10-12 feet. The plants are low maintenance, drought-resistant perennials, and the river rock is an inert permanent mulch. The one high maintenance exception is the red-flowering Dipladenia vine, which likes frequent watering.

Foxtail ferns and a Dipladenia vine, Photo by Cheryl Batavia

67 Comments

  3. Thank you, Cheryl, both poems are beautiful and your palm tree looks happy. I wrote a post Love Letter to a Tree, but now there is even more evidence about the dangers facing the trees. Apparently, the latest research showed that noise pollution is stopping trees from growing. Your palm tree is safe as it is, growing in a quiet location.

    Joanna

    Liked by 3 people

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    1. I am glad you liked the poem and the quote, Joanna. Our palm tree was planted on Thursday, and today it is in bloom! It is very interesting that trees may stop growing when exposed to noise pollution. it is very quiet here, although sometimes we hear traffic in the distance. Thank you so much for reading and for your informative and thought-provoking remarks. ❤ Have a great week!

      Liked by 1 person

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    1. Thank you, David. We moved here a little over a year ago to escape the red tide that was making us sick when we lived near the beach. Robert has been working very hard to get the house in shape, and the yard is our last big project, we hope! Have a great week! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

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  6. I have always thought a tree makes a home. To me, things look monotonous(not sure this is the right word I am looking for) without a tree around. Nice poem, Cheryl.

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. Thank you, Angela, for your kind response. I feel the same way about trees as you do. The tree was planted on Thursday, and today it is in bloom! Pygmy date Palms are very common here, so it should do OK. You probably have them also. Have a great week! ❤

      Liked by 1 person

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      1. You’re so welcome Cheryl! I’m sooo glad. I remember wishing for mature landscaping… be caredul what you wish for … now I have a jungle.. lol
        Enjoy your week and appreciate your thoughts! 💖

        Liked by 1 person

  8. Dear Cheryl, good to see you here. This poem is so thoughtful. The pics are so beautiful,. I very much loved it. ❤️❤️ Thanks for being here, it’s always a bliss to read your works. Stay safe 🤗🤗

    Liked by 2 people

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  9. smart move! Love the colour of those pots … why not make your front door pop by matching it 🙂

    Absolutely love that quote; green our planet now, stop wasting, recycle, reduce so your grandies will have a chance 🙂

    Liked by 3 people

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    1. Kate, Glad you like the blue pots. I would like a bright door. When I owned a house in Sarasota, I had an aqua blue door. 🙂

      The quote has stayed with me ever since college, and the poem has always been a favorite. I’m with you on greening the planet for future generations. Our current problems weigh heavily on my mind. Take care, Kate! ❤

      Liked by 2 people

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      1. as you’ve done as much as you can now you need to let go … no one person can save the world. You have an open mind, good heart, wise morals but we cannot force others to take action 😦

        Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you so much, Subbashini, for your kind comments. Glad you like the post. Those little palms are very popular here. They usually get 10 or twelve feet tall, but it takes a while. It was planted Thursday and today it is blooming! Have a great week! ❤ ❤ ❤

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  18. I understand about maintenance issues. Over the past 30 years, I have allowed my backyard to turn into an urban forest. It’s a lot of work to try to maintain pathways and enough sunlight for a small garden. Thanks for speaking for the trees!

    Liked by 3 people

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    1. I would enjoy things being a little “jungle-like” if it weren’t for the allergies and maintenance. We are surrounded by vacant wooded lots on three sides, and I enjoy the wildlife. Tonight I sat on the front porch and watched some small birds “dive-bombing” a hawk who was sitting on the electric line. He finally flew away from them and right in front of me.

      Thank you, JoAnna, for visiting and sharing your thoughts. I’ll bet the spring is beautiful where you are! 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

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    1. I wish you and your organization much success in your important work! I write frequently about environmental themes. Issues such as wildlife habitat, extinction, and invasive species are themes in my Hanging Out with Wild Animals book series. I also post poems about environmental issues. It must be gratifying to be able to do more than talk about the issues! Glad you liked the poem. You might also enjoy “Save Mother Earth.” “Ode to a Glass Jar,” and “An Awkward Conversation with Mother Nature,” recent posts on this blog. 🙂 Take care!

      Liked by 1 person

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  23. Your poem is lovely, I really like how thoughtful to nature you are and how much you appreciate and the benefits it has to the world. Your landscaping looks smart and beautiful. Thank you for reminding me and sharing you heartfelt poem, I thoroughly enjoyed reading.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. “The greenery is always freshness to the eyes.” How true! I love to go out on the little porch with Robert, chatting and enjoying the fresh breeze, sunshine, bird songs, and plants. So glad you like the new low-maintenance landscaping! Thank you for your kind comment! ❤ ❤ ❤ Wishing you a week with plenty of fresh air and sunshine, Kritika!

      Liked by 1 person

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    1. Hamish, I do agree with you! Our soil is sandy, so that little tree was planted in a huge hole with fresh topsoil and soil amendments and has been generously watered. In the next couple of weeks, it will be our rainy season, and Mother Nature will take over the watering. 🙂 Thank you for reading and commenting. Hope you are well! ❤

      Liked by 1 person

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