A tree for Lucy.

The veterinary network that our vet clinic is in sponsors a tree planting event for people who let go of a pet during the year. The municipality allows the network to plant trees in a public park, with the win-win-win of people honouring their pet, increasing native plant cover, and increasing shade over a largely unshaded park. Today was the day, a sunny and warm-ish morning, kind of a bittersweet day.

You can choose a specific tree from the available ones, all of which are native to southwest Ontario. We chose a Tulip Tree because a tulip tree seed sprouted unbidden and unexpectedly in our yard about the time Lucy also unexpectedly came into our lives.

In bloom.

Faye was walking home from the post office when she saw this tulip tree blooming, and said I needed to bring the camera. So I did.

We have never seen tulip tree flowers up close. They are native to southwest Ontario, though a little uncommon. We are fortunate to have two (much smaller) tulip trees in our yard and hope to be around long enough to see the older one flower.

A photo of a number of tulip tree flowers.

A photo of two tulip tree flowers.
Close-up photo of a tulip tree flower laying on the ground.