Do you have a favourite place where you can go to be alone or to enjoy with a special person?
One of my favourite places to visit is the arboretum at the Experimental Farm in Ottawa.
In recent years I have been dragging my children there for picnics and walks along the lush, colourful pathways. We also visit my favourite tree, a Bebb's oak.
It reminds me of my dear old Dad, of a photograph that was taken of him leaning on a cane during his final years.
During a 2005 visit, we noticed a plaque on the tree dedicated to Ardeth Wood, a promising young woman who was murdered on a bike path the summer of 2003.
Visiting the arboretum provides us with a chance to experience nature as a family, to get fresh air and exercise. Visiting this tree provides me with time to reflect with a respect for ancient wisdom, hope for the future and gratitude for being a survivor.
This springtime visit, I remembered to pack my copy of For the Love of Trees so we could identify the different species. Unfortunately, we didn't have time to wander and explore due to tight schedules. Another time, perhaps.
In the novel, trees are featured often - especially the pin cherry tree. It was a favourite place for Sera Fletcher to climb and hide. It was from this tree that she first met Father Gio.
This tree provided the riggings and backdrop for the last performance witnessed by Sera's ailing mother.
Soon, it too met with its fate.
As
I look at a nearby cherry tree losing
its blossoms, I know that it will produce berries this summer and
that the remaining ones will be consumed by hungry birds during the winter.
This tree is a reminder of the cycle of life and death, much like the The tree of life.
If you appreciate trees and want to read undiscovered Canadian fiction, please visit by the web site for The Year of the Rabbit.
Thanks,
T
After attending a Feng Shui workshop this weekend, I wonder if I did justice to settings in the novel.
I know, it's after-thoughts like these that can trouble an author's pretty little head.
Perhaps I can review the descriptions of the Red Hare restaurant, the apartment above then update in a new version of the novel. I understand the importance of proper research on certain subjects if you're going to write about them - even in a general sense. When I first wrote these passages, I didn't want to complicate the story with technical details.
I have been considering options for ebook updates, a fresh printed version (sorry, trees) and plans to translate into French. Perhaps when I have a bit more energy and better resources.
You can read the detailed account of the recent Feng Shui workshop in the deep blonde thoughts blog. The lovely Tree of Life print is featured. So are the cats - especially that Tabby.
Don't be offended by my thoughts on out-dated religious texts although the subject does emerge during various scenes in the Novel.
Speaking of, drop by the Year of the Rabbit domain for updates, Tweets and distractions. Oh, yes... Remember to buy a gift copy of the novel at Smashwords where you set the price.
T
My favourite version of the Tree of Life is that from Egyptian mythology.
If you have read The Year of the Rabbit, you will notice an influence of Egyptian art and mythology as well as a constant and near-obsessive tree theme.
The Tree of Life could have been a good title for the novel. Since there was also a strong theme with the Chinese Zodiac, a little girl's evolving belief system and coping methods, I chose to use The Year of the Rabbit instead.
During manic cleanup and re-organization activities in le petit apartment this Thanksgiving weekend, I ventured deep into the storage caverns of our dwelling and retrieved one of my favourite pieces of art. It now decorates one of our bare, bland living room walls.
I had purchased this print while on an outing in Gatineau with a friend many years ago. Unfortunately, it remained wrapped in old blankets along with other paintings in storage after our move to the smaller, safer dwelling. The print nicely displays the stages of life, represented by five birds perched at different positions in a tree.
If you tread on the interwoven strands of my ancient web presence, you will become entwined in quite the list of observations, inspirations and poems about trees.
When you read the novel, you will notice a strong tree theme. You will be introduced to the cherry tree when Father Gio meets Sera, his newly discovered daughter. You will encounter several passages featuring this tree - especially one pivotal day in the lives of the Fletchers.
If I wrote the final chapters well enough, you will be touched by the full circle, the representation of the cycle of life and death.
If I wrote those final chapters well enough, I will have made you cry. Goodness knows I cried enough while writing them!
Have I enticed you to read this bittersweet story or gift it to a loved one? Visit the novel's page at Smashwords. You get to set the price when purchasing the eBook. How do you like them apples? Apples... another theme.
Thanks for dropping by. Visit the novel's domain for fresh announcements, links and tweets by Florence T Lyon.
T
