Rapunzel

Granny Sue inspired me to go looking at trees a week or so ago when she wrote about the Greenman and posted some photos she had taken. She had been inspired by a friend's blog that she follows. See how this internet communication works? Sharing interests are so much more entertaining than the dull letters we used to write, like, "We are fine here...how are you?"

Here at Castle Yonder, we are fine because we are surrounded by trees since we live in the middle of 84 acres of up-and-down mountain "knobs." I have long appreciated my arbor friends, and grieved over the loss of about 60 of them, mostly huge oaks growing on hillsides, during the Great Ice Storm of 2003. (We lost a beautiful elm, also, that looked over and guarded our home.) However, I had never looked for faces in them even though I've loved fairytales where the trees take on human characteristics. 

I'm not able to go hiking through the woods now, so I have lost many opportunities to find tree faces. But I am consoled to know they are out there, friendly and protective. Now I have to stick to the road, often just driving the car then getting out and walking a short distance. We even had our road paved because we couldn't stand being jostled and bumped by all the potholes that developed, and asphalt is not friendly to lots of flora. It's amazing what survives on the edges, and even grows through sometimes, but I am sorry that we are leaving a sizable footprint.

I didn't find any Greenman faces, but I did find the fallen and deceased, youthful buds, and mossy feet. I also found this shagbark hickory that made me think about the Rapunzel fairytale. I copied the photo, then cropped the "face" and falling tresses, but I'm not sure if she is Rapunzel or the witch. What do you think?

Proud Posies (And Designers)

On March 1, our son-in-law Armas Koehler, along with his two partner-colleagues at Moda Botanica, a floral design service in Philadelphia won Best In Show for Garden Floral Design. I am posting a few photos that my son, Alan Spooner, took. The Philadelphia Flower and Garden Show is an 8-day event drawing crowds of 250,000 people. I had fantasized about going thinking it was at the end of the month, and had even discussed it with my good friend, Molly. However, because of Rocky's recent trips to the ER decided it was not good timing. I was really excited when Alan called me to tell me the news, and really, really proud. Moda Botanica started up only last year, and this is the first they had ever shown. It surely will bring lots of good business their way.

Alan and Armas have been together for 12 years now and are very committed to their relationship. They moved to Philadelphia three years ago out of a desire to buy a house. Alan is not in the floral business. He was trained as a Pastry Chef, but was forced to end that career due to vascular problems. He now works as a Fund Raiser for a bio-medical research organization closely connected to the University of Pennsylvania. 

His career as a chef, and Armas' career as a floral designer, do mesh at times and they have done Special Event shows together. Armas is a quiet, reserved, and obviously very creative young man and we are proud of him for his labors, and of Alan for the support he gives. Alan is much more gregarious and a very good photographer!

Enjoy the slideshow! You can see more of the Moda Botanica display at http://modabotanica.blogspot.com/