"Why are you doing it?", the friend asked the tree-lover. What he was referring to was the tree-lover's habit of planting every year, in pots, to be sure, more acorns, seeds of ash, conifers he fancies, and any other tree that comes to his notice. Yet his own planting has brought about the situation that he has to crop or fell some of his own handiwork of more than 20 years, so that he may have a decent view from his downstairs windows.
The answer he gives is that it's all about curiosity, expectation. The waiting can be harrowing. For example, of all the acorns given to him (and he has plenty of his own), one set has baffled him. They are brought to him from California, are slightly smaller than his own pedunculates, but year after year have failed to germinate. He digs them up and the kernel (under a strong shell) is brown. What has he done wrong? Doesn't know.
But back to the curiosity etc. After his successful plantings, in pots, remember, you'd be surprised how many people, on asking what all this array outside the front door is for, and being told "To give as presents", are inclined to say "I do like that one," or "Those two over there are very fetching, what are they?" People who didn't think they had much interest in trees, suddenly develop one.
And then you tell them of the trees you have, which were given by friends and from which you get so much pleasure. Trees from the late John Healy, and you remember all the details of where he got them. Those were from Tuam, the others from roadside Wicklow. And how his own were doing. Then Jack Whaley's three lime trees, now becoming imposing. And the striking group of young Dostoevsky oaks, ie saplings grown from seeds gathered from an oak that flourished beside the grave of the great man in St Petersburg. These were a gift from Frank King of Virginia, and are being kept under daily watch, needless to say.
John McLoughlin of Coillte recently brought back two acorns from a live oak (that's its name) but quercus virginiana in Latin. Very small, but then he said it was a young tree he got them from, in of all places Dallas, Texas. So, every planting or forest has its story. You'll remember Lady Gregory's autograph tree, bearing some of the most distinguished names of the day. And, of course, Pakenham's splendid book about famous trees he has met. Join the world of trees, even in a modest way. Note: must check again where Peter O'Mahony's acorns came from. Y