I can not remember the first time I heard about the "Tulip Tree" but I am sure I was in the single digits of age. My mom showed it to me and every time we would get near where it grew (and still does) she would say, there's the "Tulip Tree". When it had blossoms she would pull over and just stare up at it and point to the beautiful, big, pale yellow flowers. Today driving by I thought of those words, The Tulip Tree. Yes, it would be something to blog about. There is not a time I go by that I don't remember my mom and the Tulip Tree. Today as I was thinking about how long I have known it was there I wondered, does anyone else know about the Tulip Tree and how long or how did my mom find out about it. It's also one of the times I wish I had taken more interest and asked her, how did you know what kind of a tree it is? Now writing this I am also wondering how did the one lone Tulip Tree happen to grow in this spot? I have not a clue if others grow in the Oswayo Valley area. Do you?
This is what the tulips will look like in late spring/early summer. They are quite visible from the road as you go by even as tall as the tree is. I was surprised to see Tulip Trees grow abundantly in the wild in northern Virginia near Winchester.
If you are from our area you also have gone by it hundreds of times. It is on RT 44 just north of Shinglehouse in the Dug Road. The tree grows on the right side of the road heading north towards Ceres. It is tall and straight, hopefully you will have no trouble spotting it next time you go by. Maybe someone knows the story behind the tree and how it came to be. Sure hope so and hope you share the story with me.
The last few days have proved, spring is here and not just by the date it arrived. We have been making lists and doing some little chores that need to get out of the way before the big chores begin. Dick has been busy demolishing the old trailer and garage across the road from us. Last fall we were lucky enough to get the land and buildings for a decent price. Soon it will be all cleared away and then the work of getting ready for a 20 x 20 ft. camp will be built in August. Small, 400 sq. ft. but big enough to sleep four. It will have one bedroom, bath and kitchen/living room combined. We are hoping for the grand opening to be early spring of 2017. That might be cutting it a little tight but I do work better under pressure. Now to make sure I can get others to work under pressure.
The property was originally owned by Bill and Eugertha Hathaway. They parceled off 1&1/3 acres and gave it to their son Monty Hathaway. He lived there for many years until he sold it and moved to town. He sold it to a father and son from Allentown, PA for a hunting camp. Like many they lost interest in coming up or like most families when the kids graduate and off on their own life changes. They camp has been vacant for 16 years with no hunters coming to enjoy the few days of telling stories, playing cards, having good food, drinks and the "male bonding" time. Life goes on. Here's hoping our cabin will be full of good times, good food and lots of story telling.
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| Soon it will not be such an eye sore. |
We had a couple good looking fishermen stop in for lunch today. I got up this morning thinking, better get some food around just incase. Loose fried hamburger for "Red and Trudy" style burgers,(if you are from the area you know what I mean) chips, pickled dilly beans and of course a big batch of chocolate chip cookies. Life is good when the grandkids stop to tell their fishing stories, talk about the OV baseball team win over Coudersport and just have a few laughs together. Then our oldest grandson came down to help his gramps dig up some dirt and get the lawn ready for rolling and grass seed. I like the saying, old as dirt. Today smelling the fresh turned dirt made me think, maybe that is why I like that saying. The fresh tilled soil smells so fresh, all it needs is seed for the new beginnings of life. Nothing prettier than see a field freshly plowed.
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We put in a new driveway and now filling in the old, soon grass
will be growing. |
The day was perfect for working outside. My favorite thing, mowing lawn and not so favorite transplanting 4 Peony bushes. Seriously their roots must reach China! Once it was all done I headed to the back deck for a cold drink, finish up a doily I have been crocheting and of course just take in the fresh smells and view. I was surprised to see the moon just over the hill. It was beautiful and so big. It made me think, (gahhh, that's all I do is think) we think we are in control but really not at all. That moon, the sun, planets, stars and meteors they are in control. It's great big, we are a speck. Now how is that for odd, weird and out of the normal thinking? When our boys were in the Army and stationed half way around the world I would look at the moon and say, it is Bart's or Beau's moon. It made me feel better to know we could look at the same thing so far away from each other. I'm sure the moon as consoled many throughout the years. Nice to see it today against the clear blue sky.
*The Tulip Tree is the exact place of the accident that killed my mom, August 4, 1966. Along with good memories of the Tulip Tree is also the sad memory of her death. The good has finally out weighed the bad. That tree proves to thrive and give me the opportunity to see it and know what a special meaning it has. I Here is to you Sophia Idella Gross.
