FLOWERS AND TREES

In case it hasn't been noticed before, it is interesting to observe how helpful grandchildren can be, not only to people but to trees and the landscape in general. For example, we're going on a Saturday morning to see the seasons. They bring little gifts of their own choosing when they arrive to meet for a walk. One of them presents a rubber band that she says she found on the walk and the other one brings a tiny dry twig that held its small seed intact. It might just grow to a tree someday. Both lovely and thoughtful gifts.
When they heard we were all going to the patch of purple wildflowers on the hilltop just outside the gate they were off and running past a tall tree in the yard. But wait, what is this patch of wriggling "something" clinging to the south side of a large six inch diameter tree bole. Daddy starts to pick one wriggler off but they all seem to be stuck together with their own brand of glue. "I want to hold one," says the five year old and seems to handle it well. Small three year old hands beg to hold one also but the experience is too new. You wouldn't want to hear the multi-toned screech that came forth. Mommie was busy with the baby so Daddy saved the day by rolling up the whole mat of caterpillars and carried them up the hill to a sage bush. They haven't been seen since. At one overcrowded patch of flowers they were allowed to pick a tiny bouquet. They offered to share them with the rest of us, but they were real comfortable in those small hands and will survive several days when placed inside with a fresh change of water each day.
We stopped for a rest in the Music Room Lounge and listened to the two older girls play a piano duet called "The Alphabet Song." They tried out the Go-Meters in the gym area but those short legs couldn't quite reach the pedals. Everyone was happy that the grandchildren had noticed the patch of caterpillars because they dispurse, crawl up the tree and spin tents that will eventually kill the tree. Daddy annouced it was time to go to the Recreation Center to register for summer events. It was hugs, smiles and farewell waves at the door. And many thanks to those helpful grandchildren who may have saved the life of a beautiful tree.