The Cigar Tree

For the past twenty-some years I have been blessed with the acknowledgement of Memorial Day Weekend without the use of a calendar. This year it happen again. Friday afternoon I went to the front door to check on our dog, who had gone out the back door, when I was greeted by white blooms. Like a slap in the face it hit me, it's Memorial Day Weekend!! I would have bet a dollar it was next week. But there it was, the proof hanging on the tree before me.

For those of you who can't tell what I have here, it's a Catalpa tree. Known to many as a Indian Bean Tree, or as to us common folks here somewhere, a Cigar Tree. These names given I sure for the long pods these trees produces in the fall. And my tree is "BIG"

Every year since I have lived here the tree has never failed to bloom on this weekend. It's more regular than Jamie Lee Curtis. The tree has so many flowers that from a distance the whole tree appears white. You can stand under it in a rain storm and never get wet. And as you can see it dwarfs my house, which is a good thing. For it keeps my house cool up until about 3 o clock everyday during the summer months. You talk about living green.

Next to the flowers the only real down side to this tree are the worms that appear in July. They make a mess with their droppings. But it does make good compose. And the worms are tasty too, to fish. The fisherman who knows will travel for miles to gather the worms for bait. And many of them will bag the worms and keep them in freezers until needed. Like many things in life it's a give and take situation. It gives me shade and shelter, I put up with the flowers and worms.

I don't know how much longer my tree will last. Lightning seems to enjoy it every chance it gets. A funnel cloud mistreated it on the south side about 10 years ago. And the ice storms this winter, well the ice bought down three large branches on the north east side. But the thing that worries me most is the fact that it is rotting on the inside. Every time it rains now, water pours out from around the lower branches. Which is not good.

The hole opens up in the main forks where I still hope to locate a tree house someday. A bush is growing there now under the tree's face thanks to the worm compose. I need to get the sons up there to remove it (the bush), and maybe use concrete to seal the hole. That may give it a few more years. It saddens me to think that I may have to remove it before it removes me. But like any good friend I'll be there till the end, when ever that may be.

One other note I like to make about my tree. As I said my tree is big, but not the biggest in Kentucky. There is a tree somewhere that measures 234 inches around the trunk. My tree only measures 161 inches. But I wonder do they love their tree as much as I love mine. I like to think not.

Until the next time, take care and may God bless.