Planting a tree is almost like adopting a child – it brings joy. It’s something every writer should do.
Last week I bought eight beautiful thuja trees. We planted six of them outside our new fence.
Ever since, I’ve been checking on them daily for any signs of unwellness.
I overcame my social anxiety and went out to water them with a hose.
Each time I look at them, a sense of camlness and quiet delight comes over me.
They are about as tall as me. The fresh green that they wear is my new favorite color. Their young branches tickle the air and reach out for the sunlight.
I watch them through the window, and I watch them each time I go into the garden. When I go for a walk, I greet them with my silent attention.
Planting a tree is not easy. A large hole must be dug. Gravel must be laid at the bottom of the hole, to keep the moisture near the roots. The tree mush be lifted from its pot and carefully placed in the hole. It takes at least two to plant a tree well, even if it’s only a small tree. That is another wonderful thing about planting a tree — it’s an act of solidarity.
After you plant a tree, you have to water it. Not just once, but regularly.
You have to give it fertilizer, if you want it to grow strong.
You have to clean it and trim its branches, if you want it to look its best.
You even have to pray for rain when the water company cuts off your supply.
When we writers plant a tree, we give something back to the soil. Think of all those pages that we use up during our lifetime. If our stories get published, it’s even worse — whole families of trees may have to suffer for our inspiration.
A tree that needed years to grow can be cut in just five minutes. Many felled trees end up as books. When a tree becomes a book, maybe it attains its own kind of immortality.
Still, the more trees we plant, the better.
Make the world a little greener, make it a littler fresher, make it a little better. Plant a tree. Anywhere, anytime, any way you can.
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Have you ever planted a tree?
boy with a hat 
Reblogged this on msmollahsworld and commented:
I need to plant a tree for my yet to published book / books.
18 days to Go
It’s exciting to care for and watch the progress of trees or plants In my case wildflower seeds that I planted last week. It’s delightful to watch them progress!
Oh I just remembered that I promised someone to plant a tree.. I live in an apartment and find it difficult to do that here. But my daughter
in Quebec lives in the forest and promised that she would plant some for me in my name. In fact she plants many every year. I agree with you. Let’s give back to this earth. We mistreat our beautiful planet so much. Thank you so much Vincent for this post. You are very kind. I love reading your blog always. Enjoy your summer. Huguette.
Your daughter lives in the forest?! In a tree house, I hope, or at least a log cabin.
I have planted an apple tree in my back garden and a maple out front. 😊
Are the apples good?
Tiny & sour, I only planted the tree 3 years ago.
Ah, I love this post. And I am rooting for your trees (pardon the pun). It is a very special thing to watch something grow and to tend to it and look out for its welfare. Trees are the planet’s friend and good for our own souls. Every extra tree is a thank you to the earth. I wish them good health 🙂
[ Smiles ] I haven’t planted a tree in a very long time.
I love this concept of yours though!
I believe every time you or others write something, it is a branch in the larger tree of articles, which are part of the big “tree” of creativeness forming the world in which it grows. I planted five evergreens in 2015 (slowwww growing kind) and watched them everyday, ensured they were watered, etc. Today, two years later, they are twice the size as when they were planted. I like to see quicker growth however, so like you, l I will plan Thuja for privacy. Our writing careers or whatever businesses we put out hands to, always benefit from the kind of care we give the trees in our lives. The more attention we provide, the healthier they are, assuming we do the right things. 😀 Thanks for your article.