A few years ago, I bought and planted a tiny cherry tree and a tiny apple tree behind the house. Gardening of any kind is tough at our altitude and in our dry climate, which is worse than ever with ongoing drought. Weather extremes makes planting trees an act of faith anyway, so to speak. Everything went fine, until it didn’t. Both trees — to differing degrees — got decimated in 2025 by what we think was a pack rat. Heartbreaking. Yet, this week, the cherry tree did something that I think teaches an important lesson, especially at this point in our shared history. Enjoy a bit of a photo essay as a break from all the things.
Cherry Tree – Circa Spring 2023
After Getting Wrecked in 2025
Almost all of the branches… gone!
The Lesson
Here’s what I’m focusing on now. Despite having almost no branches after last year’s destruction, despite having no real leaves yet this spring, the tree found a way to bloom anyway.
It’s knocked down nearly to death, and yet it’s blooming.
Good for you, tiny cherry tree.
I’m hoping that it starts growing more branches in the now-naked areas, but I guess we will see. I had planned on being happy if it got any leaves at all, so blossoms already exceed my expectations.
We’re all this tree right now.
Keep living and doing and being, pals.