The Pear Tree

When Gina and I moved into this house almost 11 years ago, not a single tree was planted. We planted several and allowed several seedlings to develop.

While the house has been good to us, I know someday we'll move on from there, and I will be OK with that. Of all the things, I think I'll miss, it just may be this tree.

A co-worker and friend of ours had convinced us to buy a "dwarf" pear tree via mail order. We did, and a very unpromising stick about a yard long arrived. Seriously, it was pretty much a stick. In the picture to the right, you can see the original thing in the middle, with no growth, leaning towards the upper right and stopping near the top.

We placed it close to our house, believing the dwarf tag and not at all expecting it to get much more than six feet or so tall. In a very short time (probably 7-8 years max), it has nearly reached the gutters on the second story.

But what I love about the tree (and my wife has commented on it as well) is the lovely sound of its leaves. I would even swear that it rustles differently in the early morning, mid morning, afternoon, evening, and night. Just ever so subtly different, but a delight. It sits just outside a couple of windows and with them open, having that tree there just being is wonderful.