Goodbye, good old tree!
August 28, 2012 8:43 PM Subscribe
How would you go about celebrating a tree? Ideas for a small group art party, BBQ, tree-love, silly thing....
So, we have this wretched and wonderful apricot tree in our backyard. It arches over the entire small yard like an umbrella. An umbrella of twisted, decaying branches, which drop all the time and it doesn't fruit* because it has fungus and it would likely never fruit because it's too wet where we live and it's fairly shaded by a big cherry to the south. So... after much deliberation, we are going to cut it down after it drops its leaves this fall and that will make way for some other yard projects.
But, I am sad. I like the tree even though I've made peace with letting it go. Anyway, we are having an open house and BBQ and I thought it would be fun to decorate the tree in some way and let people participate in the farewell-to-the-tree process. I know that this is goofy and I'm a sap (har) but I also like the idea of a sort of maypole type thing happening in the middle of the yard and maybe I'll feel better about letting this tree go.
So, what could we do that would be fun and pretty that could involve young and old. Other than ribbons, I'm kind of stuck.... And, if I did do ribbons, where could I get a bunch that wouldn't cost an arm and a leg?
*Three years ago, I was sitting under the tree and I spied at the end of a long branch near the eaves of my house a single golden apricot. I got out the ladder and climbed up to the eave and was barely able to grab it without falling down. It looked great – no bugs, no holes. I sank my teeth in... and it was the most perfect apricot I've ever tasted. It was like the entire energy of the tree was concentrated in that one little apricot.
So, we have this wretched and wonderful apricot tree in our backyard. It arches over the entire small yard like an umbrella. An umbrella of twisted, decaying branches, which drop all the time and it doesn't fruit* because it has fungus and it would likely never fruit because it's too wet where we live and it's fairly shaded by a big cherry to the south. So... after much deliberation, we are going to cut it down after it drops its leaves this fall and that will make way for some other yard projects.
But, I am sad. I like the tree even though I've made peace with letting it go. Anyway, we are having an open house and BBQ and I thought it would be fun to decorate the tree in some way and let people participate in the farewell-to-the-tree process. I know that this is goofy and I'm a sap (har) but I also like the idea of a sort of maypole type thing happening in the middle of the yard and maybe I'll feel better about letting this tree go.
So, what could we do that would be fun and pretty that could involve young and old. Other than ribbons, I'm kind of stuck.... And, if I did do ribbons, where could I get a bunch that wouldn't cost an arm and a leg?
*Three years ago, I was sitting under the tree and I spied at the end of a long branch near the eaves of my house a single golden apricot. I got out the ladder and climbed up to the eave and was barely able to grab it without falling down. It looked great – no bugs, no holes. I sank my teeth in... and it was the most perfect apricot I've ever tasted. It was like the entire energy of the tree was concentrated in that one little apricot.
I like the idea of stringing in twinkle lights for the evening. Also, every holiday season in my town, there's one tree in one neighborhood that becomes the Wishing Tree. Slips of paper and pens are provided and then the papers are tied on to the tree. Maybe your tree could be the wishing tree for a night? I know that's corny, but then, I am a big old sap too. This is such a neat idea, by the way!
posted by anonnymoose at 11:08 PM on August 28, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by anonnymoose at 11:08 PM on August 28, 2012 [2 favorites]
Or, you could put nice things about the tree on the slips of paper, even silly ones. I mean, most perfect apricot ever, yes?
posted by anonnymoose at 11:09 PM on August 28, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by anonnymoose at 11:09 PM on August 28, 2012 [1 favorite]
If the tree is at all climbable, climb it. Just leave a ladder near it, if necessary, and let people climb up and snuggle it at will over the course of the evening. (Trees are surprisingly snuggleable.) You might want to test for structural integrity yourself first.
posted by ostro at 12:12 AM on August 29, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by ostro at 12:12 AM on August 29, 2012 [1 favorite]
Just promise me you'll end the evening with a recitation of "the giving tree" by shell silverstein.
posted by chasles at 4:15 AM on August 29, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by chasles at 4:15 AM on August 29, 2012 [1 favorite]
In Japan, you write little messages on slips of paper and tie them to trees.
Perhaps well wishes, or petitions, or thoughts, or prayers.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 9:01 AM on August 29, 2012 [1 favorite]
Perhaps well wishes, or petitions, or thoughts, or prayers.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 9:01 AM on August 29, 2012 [1 favorite]
Twinkle lights, wish slips tied to branches with yarn, hugs, and hold hands around the tree and sing farewell. Formally address the tree to thank it for it's lovely tasting apricot and for all the generous shade.
posted by BlueHorse at 11:12 AM on August 29, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by BlueHorse at 11:12 AM on August 29, 2012 [1 favorite]
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It really doesn't take very long to learn how to crochet a granny square, and you can even carefully detach the work before the tree gets taken down and preserve the tree by the resulting strange shape you'd get. Just attach them with ribbons or something else easily picked apart from the yarn. Yarn costs less than ribbons, and often you can get clearance or bulk yarn for pretty cheap. Since you're not caring about fiber quality it'll be even more inexpensive.
There are lots of free instructions for easy afghan squares or doilies online. You can print out instruction sheets. A granny square can be blanket-sized or a couple of inches, depending on how long someone spends on it. The people who can't crochet or knit can help with attaching them all together on the tree, and making other kinds of garlands to decorate with, and taking pictures.
posted by Mizu at 9:12 PM on August 28, 2012 [3 favorites]