Walnut Trees and Errant Daffodils
Of the dozens of trees on our property, one has a reputation. The black walnut.
The very week we moved into our 1898 farmhouse last May, a concerned neighbor made sure we knew its reputation. Sticks would drop constantly, walnut hulls would stain our driveway, sap would damage our cars, and so on. It was named black for a reason, he warned.
At first, I thought the rumors were true. On a warm sunny day immediately after an electrician left, the tree dropped a sizable live branch right where his truck had been. It wasn’t windy.
My husband and I stood below the thirty-foot veteran, scanning for disease or dead wood. Its trunk was broad and unscarred, though a number of other branches hung low over the driveway. They seemed healthy enough. Maybe.
It was time to find a tree guy.
“It needs to lose some weight,” he said, rocking back on his heels. He pointed to the break. “Those branches have grown uncontrolled for so long that it pruned itself.”
I think we were supposed to laugh.
Months have passed since dead and healthy branches were trimmed out. Sticks and nuts have dropped, leaves have yellowed, but a few truck ruts underneath it have hollowed out from heavy winter rains.
In midwinter, a crew we hired to put in a French drain near the house offered to fill in those same ruts with displaced dirt. Nothing grew in winter of course.
Until two weeks ago.
Dozens of tiny green daffodil blades have surfaced from a few wheelbarrows of dirt. Dirt from two and three feet below ground. Rocky dirt that once lay deep on the warm south side of our farmhouse.
Spring rain has washed more dirt away. Many bulbs are growing on top of the soil now, and I am salvaging these rescues with care.
I’m pretty sure the daffodils won’t bloom. Not this first year. Years ago, I remember my Grandma Sarai telling me that when her iris or daffodil beds stopped blooming it was time to move the bulbs. They needed new soil, new light. “It’s simple. Just move them.”
The walnut tree, these errant daffodils—all are reminding me of God’s goodness and care, of how He led my husband and me to literally move to a new city and state in 2022, of how He is leading me still with the promises of blooms to come.
Around the web
Last month I enjoyed reading Mark Bauerlein’s pointed article in First Things, “A Message for Humanities PhDs.” Though roundabout, he makes a strong case for teaching in classical schools. In my new administrative role, I’ve already interviewed one PhD willing to teach middle school Humanities!
Front Porch Republic published my article “Devotion to Whole Education: Booker T. Washington” in February. His Sunday evening talks at Tuskegee Institute are a treasure trove of godly advice for students. He realistically speaks of life’s disappointments alongside the need for persistence, wisdom, and the fruits of the Spirit.
In March, Story Warren published my collected book reviews of several middle grade novels, “3 Medieval Fiction Novels for MG and YA Readers.” I’m choosing Avi’s first Crispin novel for our incoming 8th graders’ summer read.
On the road
The Classical Thistle and College of the Ozarks hosted another tremendous classical Christian education conference March 3-4 in Branson, Missouri. I really, really enjoyed leading a discussion on C.S. Lewis’s “Screwtape Proposes a Toast” along with presenting inspirational teaching nuggets from C.S. Lewis and a session on helping our students better understand classical Christian education in the classroom. These and many other workshops will be available on YouTube at The School of the Ozarks channel in another month or so.
On my nightstand
I always have a stack, but I’m currently reading Alex Sosler’s Learning to Love: Christian Higher Education as Pilgrimage as I finish Susan Wise Bauer’s The Story of Western Science: From the Writings of Aristotle to the Big Bang Theory.
As always, please feel free to email me. I welcome your thoughts and recommendations. And don't forget that the List Library at my website is always available to you, my readers!
Christine
P.S. Drop a comment or question below and let me know what you think!