{please click on photo for a better view}These are the flowers of the tobacco tree also known as a cigar tree. The reason they are called cigar trees or tobacco trees is the huge seed pods that come on them in late Summer.
They look like giant cigars. These trees are very common here in the Midwest.
When I was little my cousin and my sister and I tried to smoke the seed pods that looked like cigars. It was awful!
I remember climbing these trees at my aunt's house. She had twin Tobacco trees sitting next to each other and I would pretend I was Tarzan and jump from one to the other. I was the biggest daredevil you ever met. And was as wild as a March hare.
One day, me and my cousin Linnie and my sister were sitting in the Tobacco tree and we were taking the giant leaves and using them to fan ourselves. We were pretty little..And we just sat in that tree for a couple of hours talking about what it was going to be like when we grew up..
I miss times like those. The camaraderie of having close childhood cousins who were also best friends. And I miss how the endless Summer days of our childhood held us close together.
But we grow up and apart..It seems. Forgive my nostalgia..It is just the Summer that does it to me.
P.s i just saw the first fireflies of the season 3 nights ago..I was so excited.
~Nita~
Tonight's song, The Ballad of Billy Jo McKay by Shawn Mullins
1st video, 1st clip
If you have a chance please listen to this. I love it..
25 comments:
nostalgia.....reading your words brought back memories of climbing our castor bean tree and jumping out of it....and like you...just sitting up there and watching the day go by.
the picture is gorgeous, nita...you must be surrounded by an abundance of beauty where you live, you always have the most beautiful pictures of flowers, shrubs, trees and foliage.....right now our 111 degree weather just burns it right up!....so i love to dream about green! :)
hugs to you dear friend.
and prayers.
kimberly
I was like you and spent countless hours with my cousin. We would be able to day dream about wonderful things. I miss those days too.
That tree is so pretty. I don't think we have them here in CA. I'm sure I would remember seeing those.
I had to laugh when you said you tried to smoke the pods.
Hugs,
Joanne
I have a cousin that we were close in age and I loved getting together for the holidays or for what ever reason, she was all prim and proper, and I was the "wild child" she once dared me to drive my grandad's truck down this alley and of course I did, after all I knew how to drive growing up in the country, well we never got cought...fun, fun time's and my daughter and son are close to their cousins as well, and it's my children that are that are the "wild one's" must be in their genes! when I loved in Oaklahoma I'd catch fire flies with my other sibling's and we'd put them in a jar and then put them in our parents room!!! :). Thanks for thebringing back some terrific memories, your the GREATEST!!!!!
LOVE YOU,
Annette
Goodness! What a Beautiful tree!! Gorgeous picture!! Thinking of you with love sweetie!!hughugs
We have these trees too. They are all over the park near my home.
My cousins and I shared many good times together, but as adults, we sseem to have drifted away from each other -- the glue was my uncle, their father, and once he died, everyone went in a different direction. Very sad.
xoxo
I hear that. I always get nostalgic in the summer. Such great memories.
Really pretty flowers on the tree. I've never seen one before.
Oh yes, the days of youth and cousins. I had 17 1st cousins that I loved dearly and would visit every chance I got. Good times.
Take care, Nita.
Oh I love this tree. It is amazing how many flower clusters are on it. Just beautiful and I want me one!!!
Nita, I love the memories of summer you wrote about, so precious from another time when life was different. I have some memories similar to these too and yes, summer was the time to kick back and grow. And you crack me up with trying to smoke the pods. Something I would have done. I love you Nita and thank you so much for the picture of the tree. I love it.
Love and Big Hugs, Laurie in Ca.
I love memories, they are our history. I also love fireflies. I get as excited as a little kid when I see them. This is my favorite time of year and every 4th I go out on our deck not to watch the fireworks but to watch the fireflies.
summer does the same thing to me Nita...I remember climbing up in the Pecan tree and trying to peel away the green shells before they were ready; best of all the scent of my Mamaw's Gardenia bush in the front yard. Thanks for the sweet dip in to the memory pond.
Hugs,
Dena
summer does the same thing to me Nita...I remember climbing up in the Pecan tree and trying to peel away the green shells before they were ready; best of all the scent of my Mamaw's Gardenia bush in the front yard. Thanks for the sweet dip in to the memory pond.
Hugs,
Dena
That ballad was beautifully sad!
I loved it. Made me think of my little brother. He passed away a few years ago... nice memories.
You have such a way with words. I could imagine picking up a book with that tobacco tree story as part of it. Thanks for sharing it!
What a beautiful tree and even more beautiful summer memories.
Hi Nita,
That tree is absolutely stunning! And it looks as if the fragrance is amazing!
On a side note, I would highly recommend getting Anna Olson's cookbooks: Sugar & Another Cup of Sugar for your daughter before she heads off to school. The recipes are fantastic, and I think your daughter will love them (If you two like lemon, you'll especially love the lemon pudding cups!)
Kate
Lovely post, Nita . . . growing up on the west coast, I have never seen a firefly. I've always wanted to see one. I've looked them up on the Internet, and it was interesting, but I'm sure it's not nearly the same as being there in person! Hope you have a great week! Hugs, Jann
Laurie: Sorry it has taken me so long to get back to you. I have been super busy this week. I have been cleaning and working outside some.
I am glad you love the tree. They are amazing.
They don't have much of a smell though.
But they are beautiful..
Sending you love, Nita
hello dear friend, just stopping in to say hi and thank you for your lovely comments, and I'm hoping you and your family have a great fourth as well...what do you guy's have planned? we'll stick close to home, besides I have to work, have a safe one, I'm sure I'll be chatting with you before then.....tottles....Luv, me =)
Congrats on the firefly and love this photo!
we don't have trees like this around our parts, but I think they are beautiful...especially the memories associated with them...it's always nice to recollect days before we had so much responsibility....can you imagine just sittin' in a tree now? What would the neighbors say!
Kind of funny to think about it...
hugs to you sweet friend ~
Joni
Hi Nita, a sweet memory of you and your cousin..isn't it sad we grown up and apart...I to had similar times with close cousins. We would go to our grandmothers house to stay in the summer and everyday was a new adventure,but I would grow so homesick after a while I would start to have nightmares.
Thanks for sharing your story...
Blessings,Shelley
I'm thinking of you sweet friend today ~ hope you are doing well ~ make sure you always leave some time for creating ~ it does your heart good!!! ((((hugs)))) Dawn
Your photos are so lovely, Nita!
hat a lovely tree. Thanks for the picture and the trip down memory lane.
I remember summers as a kid building cubbies in the arches of the overhanging branches of orange trees on our block. Always great fun. And climbing the plum tree while the fruit was still green, pigging out on it and getting a belly-ache :-)
Sharon
I was born in Washington State surrounded by grandparents, aunts,uncles and cousins. My Dad job moved us to S. California when I was 6 and we lived down there until I was 13. During those years, in the summer my Mom would drive us back up and we would stay with various family for 2 months. They are some of my most cherished memories. We had so much fun but like 'bird in hand' we have grown apart, each with our own families. Just recently my cousin Jeanne called me and told me that her love Steve was dying from lymphoma. She asked if she could call me sometimes to talk because the sound of my voice gave her comfort. I think that no matter what those bonds are still connected...
LisaE
Love your stories. I could listen to you forever!
God Bless you my friend
Hugs
Patti
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