The Arbor Day Plot
Listening to the Murmurs of Trees
By Maureen Dunphy
On January 1, 2019, I decided to make a resolution that might someday make a difference for my neighborhood and community while contributing to a greener future. This blog’s purpose is to provide a fertile ground to nurture me through the process.
A Second for a Serviceberry
On June 28th (I know, I know, over a month ago now; this summer has proven to be as fast and furious as the rest of the last year ), I received an e-mail from my brother Gregg of Sudbury, MA. I was thrilled to learn he'd been following my blog! (We see each other once...
Searching for 1971 Champions
In 1971, in commemoration of Royal Oak celebrating its Golden Jubilee--the 50th anniversary of its incorporation as a city--historian Owens Perkins published Royal Oak, Michigan: The Early Years (Royal Oak Historical Society, 1974). In his preface to the book, making...
Happy Arbor Day 2019 …
. . . Belatedly! Sometimes a delay happens for very good reasons. Of course, I may just be trying to reassure the OCD facet of my personality, the part who has a very hard time missing a deadline--even a self-determined tree-planting deadline. My "New Plan A" Choice...
When the “Day Before” Isn’t
I typed the heading above this afternoon. But, it's been 10 days since I wrote most of what follows, except for the photo credits and the update at the end. . . . So, I've gone from 13 trees to 3 others, from an almost-decision of Catalpa and Ginkgo to a consideration...
A New “Plan A”
Determined to make my tree selection as planned by Friday, April 12th, I winnowed the 13 on my spreadsheet below down to the two that, in the end, most emotionally appealed to me: a Catalpa and a Ginkgo. My tree choices The Catalpa would adorn my parklawn/easement,...
A Fool for April . . .
. . . I am! Credit or Debit, Red Maple or Silver Maple? As the week of tax spreadsheets wore on, the flower buds on the maple twig I'd picked up on my morning walk with Jeanne S. wilted while waiting to be identified. I had planned for it to be my first subject to try...
Maureen Dunphy
Author & Writing Coach
Article Archive
- The Planting of Princess E
- The Dogwood Chase
- A Perfect Day for Making the Bed
- “Cherokee Princess”
- Happy Arbor Day 2020!
- 5 writers go into an arb …
- A Second for a Serviceberry
- Searching for 1971 Champions
- Happy Arbor Day 2019 …
- When the “Day Before” Isn’t
- A New “Plan A”
- A Fool for April . . .
- Not just a 7th species . . . 7 more!
- Can you suggest a 7th tree?
- Hearts and Trumpets, Cigars and Fenceposts
- Singing Tree and the Honey Locust
- Arboretum Added
- Why Not?
- Resolved: Plant a Tree on Arbor Day 2019