Clippings

Hello beloved outdoor enthusiasts,

I am up early because my brain is spinning with reverie and my heart is so full of gratitude that I could hardly sleep. Yesterday was the single most impressive and significant day at Bartlett Arboretum in my short 11 year stint here as her steward. Community Forester, Tim McDonnell organized a service day for the KAA (Kansas Arborist Association) and it was nothing short of phenomenal. Specifically a large troop of tree swingin’ nature lovin’ saw totin’ fellows, sporting orange vests and leather boots, plus a few impressive no-holds-barre women, showed up to give our ol’ gal a haircut. As Tim and I were preparing for the event late on Thursday, only 14 people had signed up in advance. When he phoned me yesterday morning to announce that nearly 90 had arrived, first at the John C. Pair Research Station in Derby, I could hear the enthusiasm mixed with anxiety in his voice. Panicked, I began calling every Soil Sister and family member I could think of. Rosalie Hatfield, Mary Oliver, Pam Gerber and my folks (who, as usual, jumped in the car to race north) came to the rescue. We served up BBQ at noon when the trucks began rolling in. I gave a short, extemporaneous speech about the historic property, introduced the Arb God Mother and Legacy, Mama G, and then she and I led an appreciative group on a tour. Many jaws were on the ground as most were making their first visit to the tree museum…folks from Leavenworth, Johnson County, Emporia, western Kansas ~ all over…identifying unusual/champion trees, measuring their girth, chatting with one another about how the arb is the “best kept secret” in Kansas…

What followed made me cry and rendered me (rarely) speechless. Two bucket trucks, two chipper/shredders, a stump grinder, 20+ climbers, and many other professional chain sawers on the ground made a huge impact on the mature forest. She is shining this morning.

Of course, the whole time all I could think about is “I wish McKee was here!” I met his double as a tall slender professional from Kansas City, wearing outdoor catalog clothing that only Sean would purchase strolled through the gate and proceeded to shout out orders to make the most of the talent and equipment available. Four of the arborists are still sleeping in their fancy tents on the Big Z this morning.

Tim had brought his big pull-behind-a-truck sized grill/cooker over the night before as well as an outdoor shower. Rosalie had had the foresight (as usual) to freeze the beans and chicken leftovers from the croquet event and Tim was able to buy more steaks for the evening meal. My musician friends rallied and we jammed in the Garaj Mahal (I was so tired I could barely strum the guitar) to christen the event a “super success.”

After over a year of macro gardening, Jenny Lou, reminding me of Tigger, kept jumping and cheering over and over….this is incredible! This is awesome! As the grappling truck schlepped entire unwanted trees out of the fence lines and climbers were in the tip top of 80 foot loblollys and vistas were rediscovered ~ the birds sang a symphony and the trains provided woof whistles to goad us onward. Best of all, satisfaction was in the face of every single contributor to the day’s event.

If ANYONE ever needs local tree service, please call my new best friend, Chuck at Alfred’s Superior Tree Service who donated the very most to the day’s event.

This is the yin to the yang of the flood season. Because of the dark days I have a backdrop of comparison. The mud and high water lines are only distant reminders this morning to “wake each day and seek deliberation.”

Gary Buettgenbach, venerable WCS art teacher and videographer, (who holds an entire cache of tens years of tape documenting the arb and my aging process!) captured the event on film and we will put some footage up on the Bartlett Arboretum website soon.

You are all very important to me and I wanted to share the good news while I had a brief moment and felt so compelled. Now to the sunscreen as I venture outdoors.

ever grateful,
R

p.s. yes, McKee. I got you some tee shirts.