(no subject)

[roxy]

I get attached to things. I have this tree that I'm deeply attached to. Okay, more like crazily attached to, like, in a way that disturbs the Fam. Screw them. They don’t know our love.

I saw something like this in my garden one day, a long, long time ago.




It was actually just one leaf, and I thought the wind had blown it into my garden. I went to pull the leaf out because they're pretty sharp, those holly leaves, and I didn't want the kids to stab themselves. I grabbed it, and felt some resistance and realized the leaf was actually a tiny little sapling. I nearly pulled it out anyway, but curiosity got me and I let it stay, watched it to see what would happen. I forgot about it periodically, it was fun to rediscover it, each time a little bigger. As it grew, it moved around the yard, until finally, I had Mr. roxy plant it out of the way on the edge of the drive. Each time we moved it, I worried that the move would kill it or harm it in some way, but no, it's hardy stock, my volunteer holly.

And now, she stands a good fifteen feet, maybe more—from a single leaf to this beautiful tree. *My* tree.





I'm telling you, she loves me right back, I'm sure of it. Sometimes, when I get out of the car, I talk to her. This makes Mr. R roll his eyes so hard you can practically hear them clack in his head. He's a southern boy, no-nonsense, practical about stuff (unless it's the dog, then he's just disgusting, all 'who's a good boy, then?' and 'who's a wibble-wobble-shnookie-kins'. Ok, maybe not quite *that* bad…). He doesn't hold with talking to trees. Or singing to trees. Or shaking their little hands…I mean leaves.

Occasionally, when BG is visiting, we'll get out of the car and I'll stop and look at her all expectantly and she'll roll her eyes (it's genetic) and huff," hello Tree nicetoseeyouagain." If I look at her and let my lip wobble, she'll add "sister." Yes, I do it as often as I can because it makes me snicker on and off all night.




So there you have it. I'm pretty sure other people have pet trees or bushes. I bet they talk to them as well, and wonder if they should have a well check-up, just in case…anyway, that's our story.

Say hello to Holly.

Comments

[meus_venator]

Oh my! She is a beauty.

I've never see an honest to God Holy tree for real. All I've seen are the little plastic snippets of holy. I didn't even realize they could grow that big. WOW. From that little sapling.
* GRINS * I'm sure her robust appearance has a lot to do with all the loving she's gotten over the years. And I'm sure other people have tree pets * nods * I know a lot of cactus and bonzi trees fall into this category. Holy is just…bigger.

[roxymissrose.livejournal.com]

I know a lot of cactus and bonzi trees fall into this category. Holy is just…bigger.

Exactly!! Holly's just a cute little houseplant, only outside of the house...and almost as big as the house. *beams*

Mr. R suggested cutting branches and selling them for Christmas decorations. I forgave him because I'm nice like that.

[quiet--tiger.livejournal.com]

That's actually a really cool tree! I didn't even know holly grew on a tree as opposed to a small bush. What the heck do I know. It's really neat that you have a story for it, too, that it's not just this random plant in your yard. It's adorable that your family--if grudgingly--interacts with it too!

[roxymissrose.livejournal.com]

Holly trees can get up to 60 feet tall!

It's adorable that your family--if grudgingly--interacts with it too!

I just don't get that nobody wants to hug her....

:D :D :D

[fufaraw]

I miss our holly trees--both about as big as that one. We had a boy holly and a girl holly of the same species, with the points along the edges as well as the tip of the leaf. You can tell boy trees from girl trees because only the girl trees have the red berries. They're beautiful trees--and the wood (we had to prune, occasionally) is white and close-grained and gorgeous. Also sacred, to some.

There are about elebenty-seven species of holly, and we had most of them in NC. But my favorite is this, the classic. Touch a leaf for me in passing, would you? Maybe some network of communication will get the message back to the trees at our old house.

[roxymissrose.livejournal.com]

I've never had to prune her yet, she's still kind of small and has a beautiful shape. We just cut a few thin branches from the bottom to get some air in and make mowing a little easier. I didn't know that holly was sacred to some...that's interesting!

Touch a leaf for me in passing, would you? Maybe some network of communication will get the message back to the trees at our old house

I will! Isn't that a lovely idea, that the trees could have some kind of secret network between them all? I really do shake a little leaf whenever I get in the car...jeez, I'm getting horribly sentimental in my old age.

[meus_venator]

Wait! What!!!! What I took away from this, is your Holly is having sex! It's got berries, how else would it have berries if it wasn't fertilized! Tree sex. I hope she used protection! There must be some boy Holly lurking around your parts.

And I'm glad you forgave Mr. Roxy for that terrible suggestion : P

[roxymissrose.livejournal.com]

LOL!! There is, actually, across the yard. When I wasn't looking...hah!

She's a good girl. Just...fun-loving!


And I'm glad you forgave Mr. Roxy for that terrible suggestion : P

I'm a softie, what can I say? :D

[mdlaw.livejournal.com]

Trees need love too. Holly really is beautiful. m :)

[roxymissrose.livejournal.com]

Thank you! *beams like proud mama*

[rosy5000.livejournal.com]

Holly is a gorgeous tree. I never knew holly trees grew that big. She's very lucky to have a friend like you. :)

I don't talk to trees, but I do talk to my rose bushes at times. And at work, we have a type of peace lily named Hector and a smaller sprout from him, Hector III, that I talk to often. :)

Next time you walk by her, shake her hand for me. ♥

[roxymissrose.livejournal.com]

Right? I was totally surprised that she didn't end up being a bush! The other holly tree we have is *gigantic* and kind of ugly--I didn't even know what it was the first few years we lived here. I guess that's the male tree that made our little tree bear berries...the cad!!!

[tasabian.livejournal.com]

How beautiful - I've never seen a holly tree grow that tall before.

My parents grew a tree from an avocado pit so I guess that's my "sister" lol. BG's sister is prettier!

[roxymissrose.livejournal.com]

LOL! I will tell BG she's not the only kid with a tree for a sister! :D :D :D

[sweptawaybayou.livejournal.com]

I LOVE THAT TREE.

so freaking pretty!! omgosh. next time you go out, please say Hello to Holly from Snow.

:)

Thank you.
xoxo

[roxymissrose.livejournal.com]

*BEAMS ALL PROUD*

That's my baby!! I'm completely floored how folks get that you can love a tree like this--the Fam is all eye-rolly and snickering behind their hands. Ah well! I know they secretly love it that I'm so me! ;D

[supernutjapan.livejournal.com]

That's a wonderful story and I love that picture of it as a sapling. That's beautiful with the light shining on it just right♡
We don't have very much holy over here - what is has been imported.
That's one lucky tree♡

[roxymissrose.livejournal.com]

Ah, I wish I could take credit for the sapling pic, but I ganked that one. Sadly, it never occurred to me to take a pick of sapling Holly. I honestly never thought that she'd survive being transplanted. But now, I've got a little bug and I'm going to have to comb pics of the yard from over the years and see if I can find our growing tree in them!

I've never seen another holly tree in our neighborhood. The two on our property are the only ones I've seen around here, so lucky me, too1 :D

[supernutjapan.livejournal.com]

I'm going to have to comb pics of the yard from over the years and see if I can find our growing tree in them!
That would be really cool if you could actually find it aye?! :D

[tifaching.livejournal.com]

Hello, Holly! Your red berries are lovely!

You are hilarious and your posts make my day. :)

[roxymissrose.livejournal.com]

Heeeee! I am ridiculously pleased that my posts make you laugh! :)

[carolandtom.livejournal.com]

What a lovely story! I love trees so much! And of course I talk to them, and embrace them. Say Hi to her from me, please!

[roxymissrose.livejournal.com]

I will! I will! It makes me so happy that ya'll get how great a tree she is! ♥ ♥

[tabaqui]

*Such* a gorgeous tree. You should be proud!

I talk to my our maple. We grew it from a helicopter seed, you know, and now it's...12, 15 feet tall? I go out and say hello while the dog's doing her thing, pet him and touch the leaves, just...visit.

Nothing wrong with that. :)

(In fact, I posted a picture of him on Facebook the other day....)

Third edit, sorry!!

[roxymissrose.livejournal.com]

It's such a great thing to actually grow a tree, isn't it? I mean, you spend your whole life sort of passing trees by, but never really thinking about trees growing from a little seed, becoming these huge, wonderful things--and sometimes family, lol!

Say hello from me and Holly! :D

[tabaqui]

Heeee!
Will do.

It is awesome. We grew another one last year - got it about two feet tall down in the Lair, and then put it out in the yard. It's about four feet now - can't wait for next spring/summer, hope it really shoots up!

[confuzed.livejournal.com]

This Holly says hello back. ;) So cheesy I know, hehe

[roxymissrose.livejournal.com]

*GASP*!!!!!

She'll be so thrilled! :D :D

[casey28.livejournal.com]

What a wonderful story! Your tree is a beauty, and I'm sure that she feels how much you love her. :D

[roxymissrose.livejournal.com]

Thank you! She really is pretty amazing!

[silsbee329.livejournal.com]

Or shaking their little hands…I mean leaves

:D
Oh, Roxy. I would so talk to Holly. I've always talked to my house plants. (I had an African Violet named Trevor once. That was the first -- I was in high school -- and last time I ever named one, though. *g*)

Anyway, she is lovely, and that is the best story. xx

[roxymissrose.livejournal.com]

I find it's better not to name houseplants...it just leads to tears.

*HUG*

The Fam think I'm nuts, but you guys get it. :)

Mind, you, that's not the only reason they think I'm nuts....

:D

[capnzebbie.livejournal.com]

Awww, what a lovely story, and a lovely tree!

Thank you for my hearts and birthday wishes! *hugs*

[roxymissrose.livejournal.com]

*HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGS* you! ♥