#21 Summer Time Snow

Last Sunday as I walked outside to see if I could take any decent pictures of the eclipse, I was overwhelmed with the sight of a nearly 9 foot snowball tree.  During the course of the last 20 or so years, that tree has had its ups and downs but has now managed to be a very majestic bush in my parent's back yard.  This tree has a very personal meaning to me.

When I was younger there was a snowball tree in the front-yard of my Grandparent's home.  (My mother's parents.)  Each year as Memorial Day approached I watched as the branches started sagging due to the increased weight of the white blooms.  When Memorial Day arrived grandma and grandpa would take to the trees and but off the blooms, filling large tin cans or decorated Mason Jars with the blooms from their front yard.  In addition to the snow ball tree, they had bright orange poppies and red peonies.  Together they made an incredible display of beautiful flowers that grandma and grandpa would take to the cemetery.  The blooms were beautiful, but the white snow ball blossoms were always my favorite. 

  Flash foward to 1989, I was preparing to leave on an L.D.S. Mission.  My dad wanted to do something in the yard to help celebrate my decision.  He decided that he wanted to plant a tree in the yard, he said we would be able to compare my growth as well as the growth of the tree during my two years.  When he asked me what tree I wanted planted, it took me about 10 seconds to tell dad I wanted a snow ball tree.  Now those beautiful white blossoms have a dual meaning for me.  Seeing the familiar sagging branches was very thought provoking for me, as I was instantly transported back in time to my late teens/early twenties and again back to my childhood.  I was overwhelmed with emotion and immediately snapped 15 or so pictures as I knew this was going to be my weekly picture.