We were sneaky. Before we put our first house on the market we dug up a Japanese maple that we had planted in the back. We planted it right around the time we got married and it was an offshoot plant from a gorgeous maple that grew in John’s parents’ house (the only house he lived in for his entire childhood which has since been sold). So it was kind of double-meaningful with the whole “wedding tree” and “John’s childhood house” connection. That’s why before we sold the house we figured we should dig it up and put it in a bucket and move that bucket right along with us. But since we moved in December, it wasn’t exactly planting season. The whole thing was touch and go from the beginning, and by the time we finally got around to planting it (about seven weeks after we moved since there was so much snow going on and the ground was frozen) we worried it was d-e-a-d.
But we planted it anyway, and watered it a little, and did the whole cross-your-toes-and-eyes thing.
So when spring rolled around and this other maple on our property looked like this…
… and our poor tree still looked like this…
… we really feared the worst. It had tiny buds on the end of each branch which had been there since we planted it in the winter, but they weren’t changing. Boo. But at least it didn’t look rotten or completely dead. Just sort of dormant. So we decided to leave it alone and see what happened. John even suggested that maybe it would somehow miraculously bloom next spring or something after a year of “rest.”
Then the other day John came inside after mowing and looked me in the eyes and said “guess what?!” Then he paused for dramatic effect for what felt like ten minutes while I guessed things like “you met a talking Squirrel” and “you found buried treasure.” I was dying for him to just spit out and and he finally said “the maple…” and I screamed “is getting leaves?! it’s alive?!!!!” and he nodded. Little guy up and grew some gorgeous little red leaves for us:
The whole thing culminated in my running outside and chanting “Go maple, it’s your birthday, go maple…” which eventually evolved into “Grow maple, grow maple, grow!” And I think the new neighbors might have heard me. Way to make a good impression $herdog (yes, that’s my nickname to myself that refuses to catch on). But really, who can’t relate to dancing and singing for the miraculous growth of leaves? Ok, nevermind. Only now do I realize how strange that reaction was. Hindsight is 20/20.
I guess things could still go south (we did recently learn that leafy branches can up and die in record time), but the new growth seems like an awesome sign. And it will be amazing if we can glance out the window and actually see our gorgeous wedding maple from John’s childhood home chilling in the backyard for years to come. Oh what the heck- GO MAPLE, IT’S YOUR BIRTHDAY!
Stephanie says
I had a similar experience with a white lilac tree (yes, tree – the trunks were too large to consider it a bush!) last fall/this spring. We built a new garage last year and the lilac was happily growing on the back corner of the old one. We knew we had to try to save it because it was originally planted there by my great-grandfather (60+ years ago…no pressure). We had it transplanted by our contracter and faithfully watered it and gave it TLC (and countless pep talks) but it really died off…hard. In the late fall we decided to cut it back to the ground, all the while praying that it might still sprout something in the spring. And, lo and behold, it did!! The stumps have happy little sprigs growing off of them and there is hope! I definitely did the dance and sang the song when I saw them. So now, it’s: Grow lilac grow and Grow YHL maple grow!!
Tamisha says
Next time (as if there is going to be a next time) do a “scratch” test. Scratch away a bit of bark with a fingernail (it won’t hurt the tree, promise) and if the underbark is still green, it’s still alive. If it’s dry and brittle, it’s dead. Maples are pretty resilient. I’m guessing it’ll live!
YoungHouseLove says
So interesting! Good to know.
xo,
s
Eva Reynolds says
I can always count on a good chuckle when I read your blog. This post didn’t fail. =]
Gretchen says
All great occasions should be marked by the impromtu composition of a song parody. You should hear “Oh Raylin Pooped Outside” set, ironically enough, to the tune of “Oh Sherry” For the record, Raylin is our puppy – lest we be accused of child abuse.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, now that sounds awesome.
xo,
s
CarrieK says
Bahahaha. My Remy and Cooper also get variations of that general song… amongst others!
myhonestanswer says
Fingers crossed for the tree!
Natalie says
What a great story. Outside of our first apartment little oak trees were coming up. When we moved we planted them at my parents house for the day when we buy a house and can plant them at our home. It’s such a fun thing to watch grow and remind us of all the great memories we make at our first home.
Blair says
What a cute idea to plant a tree! Between that and taking the Clara photos every week, you two are too adorable!
~Blair
Michelle says
My grandfather planted a tree when he married my grandma and called it “The Love Tree.” After over 50 years, it was a huge tree when my grandma finally had to sell the house. When the new owners started cutting down all the branches, we were all sad that the Love Tree was going to die. For some reason, they never finished cutting down the tree. Although it looked pretty dead for awhile, the tree is still surviving! The moral of this story is that you can’t kill a love tree, even if you cut off all its branches!
Shana says
$herdog! You crack me up.
Does John have a rapper name?
YoungHouseLove says
Hmm, he needs one. Now accepting submissions.
xo,
s
Elizabeth says
Okay…this website http://www.myrapname.com/
came up with…
JOHNNY J BIG GRIP
uh…LOL!
YoungHouseLove says
Hilarious!
xo,
s
KathyG says
JOHNNY P DADDY
haha
YoungHouseLove says
You guys are killing me. Hilarious.
xo,
s
jeannette says
Funk J Big a.k.a. King Fury
Ana Silva says
Sherry you are too funny! Lovely story. Nature is truly a miracle of God. $herdog – I like it. haha so funny.
Barb says
It’s a beautiful thing!!!!
B.
Carla says
We had a tree at work – probably 15 or so feet tall – that uprooted and fell over and as someone started cutting branches off of it to take it down completly, it took enough weight off one side that it slowly just stood right back up again. This was a few years ago and it is still growing strong – but is a bit bare and lopsided on one side.
Rachel Tatem says
I love trees… Our house though almost 30 years old it only has two baby trees… we haven’t started working on the outside of our house yet…
Amy says
Favorite post ever by you $herdog. =)
Mostly because I am picturing you doing this with a cabbage patch, or running man sort of dance.
Great fun, I am happy for your little tree. At least Clara isn’t old enough to be embarrased of this parental crazyness right?
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes. She grins like crazy when I go nuts and dance around. Give it a few years though- she’ll be begging me to stop.
xo,
s
mary says
what a wonderful miracle!
Beatrice says
…and by “we dug it up” and “we replanted it”, you mean John?
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, yes I do! Clara and I “supervised” from a nearby chair (yes, I nurse her in the backyard).
xo,
s
Andreina says
Sher – D – Oh – Double G is off da hizzy!
YoungHouseLove says
Word.
xo,
s
p.s. Why can’t I keep a straight face when I say word? I totally should be able to.
elle C. says
Haha! That’s wonderful! And what’s funny is that I had just come in from our back yard where we had thought that our fig tree had died. We just moved here last summer and didn’t know how to care for a fig tree, and by the time spring (and now summer) had come around, there were still no leaves after the super cold winter and very dry spring. But lo and behold! I noticed that there are new shoots coming out of the ground! – not from the branches (I’m pretty sure they are dead) – but there’s somethin’ still alive down there somewhere! I was very happy too, but I didn’t do a dance. Instead, I did the whole Frankenstein “It’s ALIVE!” to my four year old who just stared at me like the weirdo she already knows I am.
carolinaheartstrings says
Well yeah for the tree. They are hardier than you think. We have transplanted tons of them and started with literally a stick. They always do well. Yours will too.
jamie says
okay… this may be a silly question, but are maple tree leaves always that color??? It’s gorgeous!
YoungHouseLove says
I think certain types of maples are called “red maples” and for most of the spring, summer, and fall their leaves are red (they all fall off in the winter though- which never fails to send me into a panic).
xo,
s
Kelly says
“Way to make a good impression $herdog (yes, that’s my nickname to myself that refuses to catch on).”
Reminds me of…
“Hey you know what nick name never caught on? The Rossatron!” you’re just full of Friends references, even when you’re not meaning to be!
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBKkYHBE6_c)
PS Go Maple, it’s your birthday! I’m singing with you…
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, the Rossatron kills me.
xo,
s
Elijah says
Ok, I never comment, but I’ve been reading for a long time, but I can totally relate to this.
Anywayenoughtaboutme… Funny story: We have a planter box with herbs in it on the back patio and I thought it would be nice to plant catnip for our cat, well one day I look out the window and see the neighbor cat laying on top of the basil and oregano and cilantro and parsley and just rubbing his head in the catnip, having a grand ol’ time. The catnip had to go, and unfortunately, the cilantro completely died as well. The basil lost all it’s leaves, but miraculously it’s making a comeback, and the rest of the plants are still truckin’. I can’t wait to eat it!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh my gosh- hilarious! I can just picture that neighbor cat having the best time!
xo,
s
marissa says
After several transplanting failures (due totally to my neglect to water and the fact it was August) I cheered too when the 10 rose bushes we moved actually lived and bloomed! I think the better timing and watering this time around helped. :) So happy for you guys and your maple tree! Maybe if you started sporting a bandana and got a temporary tattoo, you’d get enough street cred for the the $herdog name to stick, ha ha!
Amanda says
Aw, I’m so glad it survived! My husband and I are about to move into our first home and I really want to plant a tree at some point. I just love the idea of having a tree that we get to watch grow from the very beginning – something about it is very sentimental!
Lady Goats (Gina) says
How exciting! Reading this made me remember a story that I was excited to share… and then my daughter farted the loudest, most obnoxious fart (I’m still getting whiffs)… and I can’t remember what it was!
Ahh well, I’m all for you blaring Run DMC to your tree… You could air it in ustream and we could all jam out simultaneously…. it’d have to be a world record for SOMETHING…
YoungHouseLove says
John is can’t-breathe-dying-laughing at this comment. Ok, and I’m giggling too.
xo,
s
Jenn from Much to My Delight says
You are too adorable for words.
$ara says
I’ll spread the word $herdog! It WILL catch on!
erika m says
Funny…its my birthday!! I guess I’ll share it with the maple! GO MAPLE…ITS OUR BIRTHDAY…okay maybe not.
YoungHouseLove says
Wahooo! A b-day girl singing my b-day song! Happy birthday Erika!
xo,
s
Jennifer K says
$herdog, I have a feeling your singing and dancing will propel that little maple to be the best maple tree it can be!
Mary says
Hi Sherry! This has nothing to do with this post, but congrats on keeping the Maple alive!! I thought you might enjoy this precious story about a chihuahua and a baby.. http://lilfamily13.blogspot.com/2010/05/it-was-always-her.html
YoungHouseLove says
Oh my gosh- so sweet! I wonder if that’ll be Clara and Burger in a year or two!
xo,
s
Jen @ The Decor Scene says
That is awesome!!! Grow Maple, Grow!!! We have the same Japanese Maple in our front yard. We love it. But ours doesn’t have any meaning to it, we just love it. ;)
Amanda says
Woo, go maple! :)
Emma says
Yay Maple! It appears that you don’t have a lot of deer in your neighborhood. The deer in our area (Maryland) would probably kill that little tree. You may want to chat with a nursery about whether deer pose a risk to your tree. It may be a good idea to protect your little Maple that could for a year with a mini-fence designed for baby trees. I do that with mine. Either way – great news!
Lauren says
My mom got us a free Redbud from the Arbor Society and it was just a stick in the ground for the longest time. I got WAY too excited when it got leaves this year!
Mary @ stylefyles says
Good luck with the maple, $herdog!
Audrey says
Awww. This totally reminds of the Japanese Maple I bought for my husband on our 2nd anniversary. We totally babied and loved on that maple for 6 months. Then one day I went to check the mail and thought, “wow that side of our landscaping looks unbalanced…hey, what the heck happened to my maple…where did it go?!!”
Yes. Someone stole my tree in the Dallas suburbs, and didn’t even have the decency to throw the dirt back in the hole. I called the police to put out an APB or an Amber Alert, but they didn’t seem concerned.
Seriously, who steals a tree??
YoungHouseLove says
Oh my goodness that’s so sad!!!! I hope somehow a gorgeous maple finds it way to you someday! I have faith it’ll come back like a lost puppy!
xo,
s
Amanda says
Are you kidding? Who steals a tree!!? That’s so sad. :(
It makes me want to send you a new one.
cappy says
I just love a happy story! We had a similar maple that was given to us three years ago..we thought we killed it for sure. No blossoms and just a pretty stick, then this year-sha-ZAM! We have leaves!!!!…do these things go in some weird 3yr dormate phase?!
On a side note, I had an idea for your giveaways. You probably covered this to death but what do you think about a moodboard giveaway-and you can bonus too by blogging about it after?! Word to the moodboards! (Sherdog/RUN style)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha- that would be fun someday!
xo,
s
Gin says
Way to go maple!!
And not to rain on your parade (…er, tree, which would actually be a good thing), but the big, blue car is back in the background! The fence didn’t cover it this time!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh my gosh- that thing squeaks in whenever it can. Haha.
xo,
s
Polina says
Grow Maple!!! Nice post, $herdog, made me smile ;-)
Heather Jo says
Aw… what a sweet story! I’m so glad it made it!
Elle says
I love it when things like that happen!!
We suck at gardening so when our passion fruit vine started to grow we were so excited…it finally reached the top of the fence and then our dog decided it was doing a little to well and chewed it clean off at the base :( I almost cried!
Allison says
You guys are so funny! Way to go little maple! Here’s hoping you can enjoy it for many years to come.
Mandie says
It’s your birthday!! :)
Shunta says
OMgoodness!!! I just saw Clara’s 13 month picture. Amazing how much she’s growing and changing!! I mean even looking at that picture contrasted to 12 months is amazing! And it’s also quite amazing how I see both of you guys in her!! I know you are having the time of your lives with that Clara bean!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Shunta! She’s getting so big. Sniffle. But it’s more and more fun every day!
xo,
s
michelle@decorandthedog says
My mom’s name is Sherri…totally stealing $herdog. She’s going to love it. :)
anne says
I love this.
[email protected] says
At least your tree is coming back to life. Our first tree did not survive the winter. It almost felt like losing a family member because it was one of the first things we purchased when we bought our place. Here’s the story: http://www.ahappyplacecalledhome.com/home/2011/4/12/honey-i-think-we-killed-it.html
Love your blog!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh man- so sorry your guy didn’t make it. Better luck with the next one!
xo,
s
candace @ thecandace.com says
YAY, glad to hear it survived! Gonna party like it’s your birfday!
Janette@The2Seasons says
I’ve been busy “crashing” my husband’s and my own new digs for our blog, and after the latest posting, Jordan (blog partner and daughter) and I laughed. We said you two would have made 30 blog entries out of it. We aren’t as patient as you.
You two do such a great job. Even though I am old enough to be your mothers, I still read you twice a day.
Sheela says
I definitely understand the joy that comes with plant growth. I held my breath this year to see if my hardy hibiscus would come back because I had dug up the whole thing (which was quite the endeavor), cut it in thirds, and then re-planted about a third of it. It had gotten too big. Lucky for me, it has grown back! So enjoy your maple, Sherdog!