Copper Beech....my favorite tree.

I love to read. One book I read years ago was called The Copper Beech, by Mauve Benchley (did I get that right?). Every year for our wedding anniversary, Philip and I plant a tree. This one was planted about 8 years ago and was only about two feet tall. The leaves are a most striking red copper color and do not drop off in the fall. Come spring, the new leaf pushes the dry leaf off. During the winter, the dry copper colored leaves make a lovely sound when the wind blows through the branches. That is why we also do not cut our Victorian grasses back until spring. We call it our winter garden, sparkling with frost, ice & snow and making music to replace the song birds of summer. We also collect chimes and have them hanging over all our decks. That sound is relaxing and addictive in all seasons. The Copper Beach can live for hundreds of years and it's branches will grow to be thick and huge ready to support children of all ages, tree houses, swings and in our case, Mommy black bear and her cubs. The next generation will enjoy seeing all of that. My imagination will have to do for now.