Chestnut Trees

When I think of chestnut trees, I get several images. One is walking in London at Christmas and smelling chestnuts roasting and being hawked by the vendors and sold in little bags and then the eating of the delicious nut. Then of course come the words of the song, "Chestnuts roasting on the open fire..." or the poem, "Under the spreading chestnut tree, the village smithy stands..." These are such wonderful images. Most chestnut trees were gone when I was a child because of a blight. All that was left was Horse Chestnut trees which did produce those shiny brown nuts, but they were not eaten by humans, and only maybe, horses. They were fun to collect and throw, of course. Yesterday I read in the paper that in a year or so they may be reintroducing an enhanced chestnut tree that has genes that are resistant to the blight. I think this is wonderful and amazing.

We have had many trees fall victim to pests or blight like the elm tree, victim of the Dutch Elm disease as an example. Then on the evening news, I learned that a woman in Africa has set a goal of 4 billion trees planted this next year(s). What a wonderful way for individuals to try to help stop global warming as trees take in carbon dioxide and give off oxygen.

Then I think about living in Nebraska and learning about the Morton family. One of the sons founded the Morton Salt Company. His father founded and sponsored Arbor Day. Now annually, millions of trees are planted on this day throughout the world. When we had moved to Newark Valley, Dad got the idea or reforesting our side hill, and he got young pine trees, and we worked our way up the hill planting them. Today, maybe 40-50 years later, the side hill is re-forested. A lovely memorial to his wisdom.