As I was inspecting my baby seaside daisies, which are being crowded by dense chamomile, I looked up and gasped audibly, in surprise. Tears even sprang to my eyes when I realized that new leaves were sprouting from the beautiful weeping mulberry that I had given up for dead only a week ago.

In my efforts to maintain the dramatic tone of this anecdote, two things came to mind. Firstly, I thought that the visit of my parents-in-law had been such a blessing that my tree had been kicked back into life (albeit several months late). Secondly, I thought that the tree was defying me because I had so firmly proclaimed it ‘dead as a doornail’ in its presence.

Monte is so much more logical than me. He quoted events such as: the dry weather; the shallow soil; and the chamomile, which could be protecting the roots as reasons for the tree’s sudden burst into life.

We planted the mulberry tree in early September, which is a bit late for fruit trees. After waiting for over 4 months, it is so lovely to see the tree finally looking alive and well.

Sometimes beauty catches us quite by surprise, doesn’t it? This little event completely altered my mood and was a pleasant surprise after having said goodbye to my inlaws just moments before.

The ornamental weeping mulberry does produce fruit. We are growing it in the centre of our ‘front’ garden, near a little pond. We might move it up the slope a bit if its roots are getting too swamped.

Rejoice!