Treewhispers

We relocated to Winston-Salem in 2007. We bought a stately 100-year-old house in the historic neighborhood of the west end. Unfortunately, our house is near the end of the block near the main thoroughfare with a car repair shop visible from the front porch—not a particularly pretty site. We went to a local garden shop and purchased a 5-foot spindly maple tree seedling. The tree was planted in the corner of the front yard and watered regularly. Within a few years, our plan worked—at least when it has leaves. The tree is over 20 feet high and fully blocks the view of the repair shop! This wonderful tree is strong enough for our grandsons to climb. There are always bird nests in the spring and birds in the branches.

Story and art by Patty Pape, Winston-Salem, North Carolina