A mulberry tree embraces the guardrail on the west side of the canal at Huntington Street. July 8, 2009.
Today I came upon this tree growing near the cement plant on Huntington Street. It’s a mulberry tree. A few desiccated berries still cling to its branches.
It was surrounded by at least five different kinds of wildflowers. I’m in the process of trying to identify them all.
Later in the day — completely by chance — I came across this quote from Willa Cather on the blog aMMPh:
“I like trees because they seem more resigned to the way they have to live than other things do.” And then, upon researching further, I found that the quote is from O Pioneers!
I pulled the book down from my shelf. One of the characters says these words while sitting under — a mulberry tree.
That tree goes on to play a major role in the story. What happens under it is both beautiful and horrifying. The tree itself simply goes on growing.
Like this one on the banks of the Gowanus, which shades shattered glass, used condoms, a discarded bag of golf clubs. And one vine of pink morning glories.
Tags: flowers, trees, Willa Cather