The Ancient One

My recent "The Promise of Spring 2018" features images from a plum tree in my neighborhood in Menlo Park, CA that is a remnant of a great prune orchard from the pre-Silicon Valley days. I call this tree "the Ancient One." Here is my essay about that tree:

***** The Ancient One *****
by Michael J. Genevro [January 2018]

One of my all-time favorite songs is “All the Things You Are” by Jerome Kern. My favorite line from Oscar Hammerstein’s lyrics is:

You are the promised kiss of springtime
That makes the lonely winter seem long.

For me, the “promise of spring” opens my eyes and ears and soul to Life emerging in in the death-zone of Winter.
The “Ancient One” in my neighborhood embodies the Promise of Spring. The Ancient One, a crooked-branched plum tree stands as a remnant of the great prune orchard that dominated this corner of the Valley before the Silicon invasion.

The Ancient One rises next to the side-street path to Nealon Park on Roble Avenue in Menlo Park. For all but 10 days a year, the tree simply blends into the sidewalk gardens of suburban California. Its nondescript, dull green leaves scatter among the scraggly branches throughout the mid-Spring and Summer. The withered tree bears no fruit. Its dying leaves disappear in the Autumn splendor of neighborhood Japanese Maples, Chinese Pistache, and Gingko Bilabo trees.

The recent 4-year drought killed off 30% of the tree.

But for 10 days of the year, the Ancient One explodes with the pink-white blossoms of Winter-Spring.

In mid to late January, the Ancient One stands out as the only blossoming fruit tree in its domain.

For 10 days the Ancient One affirms the Promise of Spring in the near-darkness and deep-cold of Winter - a reminder of an earlier Valley.

Click Here for More Information