Have you ever started a tree from a seeding? It is not something I would have ever considered. But, I have three trees in my yard, all started from a seedling someone gave me.
This first tree, an evergreen, was given to me about 15 years ago by a good neighbor. Her church had given out seedlings for Arbor Day, but since she had a wooded lot, she didn't want them and gave them to me. I planted them, only to have them torn up by critters (probably deer). This one survived by miracle of miracles. It is now about four feet tall. And doing very well.
This next tree is a redbud. About six years ago another neighbor asked me if I wanted this seeding that his brother-in-law gave him. He started it from a cutting, but my neighbor had no room for it in his yard. So, of course I took it. I planted it in the front yard only to have the top chewed off by deer. You can actually see the curve in the trunk, though I didn't photograph it. This year it produced its first blooms. Not many, but I am hoping for a glorious display next spring. It has taken a lot of pruning and tying of limbs to get it in shape.
This last tree is very special to me. When one of my sons was in first grade, 1985, his class was given a pine seedling. I plunked it down in the back corner of our lot - and totally forgot about it. About fifteen years later, when I decided to clear out all the invasive buckthorn in that corner, I found the tree. It was only about two feet high and I could see the animal damage to the trunk. I dug it out and planted it the grass. And then the deer chewed it up again. So, I wrapped it in netting. And it continued growing. In 2008, when I decided to remove all the yews around my deck, I again moved the tree. It has done quite well.
