Photo Prayer 2021-14 — Butcher Caught In The Act
Unlike the movie “Fargo”, it is not the police chief who catches me in the act, it is my neighbor. It’s not a severed leg I’ve put in a wood chipper, red blood everywhere, it is the amputated limb of a budding cherry tree I am cutting to pieces by hand, pink petals everywhere. I was, and still am, a bit ashamed to be pruning a blooming tree. I should have done this in winter, when the sap was dormant. I should not have planted it so close to the power line. To my surprise, my neighbor is not aghast to catch a butcher in the act. She’s pleased, even delighted! She wants cuttings for her flower arrangements. I had forgotten she’s a florist. I hand her the shears and she leaves with an armful. Even now, days later, buds blossom in a vase on my dining room table.
Photo of budding cherry tree limb clippings in plastic yard-waste bag, Arden, Delaware.
Photo and text copyright 2021 by Danny N. Schweers.
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Comments
Bernadette wrote:
Such poetree!! And I tho't the yard waste bag was an emerald satin fabric at 1st. Thank you for your efforts; poetry, pruning, photography, and otherwise!
Julie wrote:
Danny, it was a gift to find your Photo Prayer in my email this morning. For some reason, it made me smile. I'm so glad you are still getting buds from your "chipping clippings.”
Kerry wrote:
Love it! Who is your florist neighbor? If I weren’t a photographer, I would be a florist! 😆
wachsmuth2 wrote:
Sometimes you just need to do what needs to be done. Next year the tree will thank you with even more blossoms.
Pamela wrote:
Love this tale.
Elaine wrote:
Love this!
John wrote:
Very cool; thanks Danny!!
Jeannie wrote:
How reassuring that from this necessary amputation came beauty and renewed life and also a good interaction with your talented neighbor.