My Redbud Tree

When our children were young my husband brought home two seedling redbud trees that he found in a wooded area. Thinking how lucky he would be if one of the two seedlings took root and grew. To his amazement both seedlings survived and grew in our front yard.

Each year we enjoyed watching the trees pink flowers burst open. When the wind blew the tiny petals of the flowers floated down like snowflakes on the sidewalk and front lawn.

The redbud tree is often called the Judas tree, there is a fable about how it got that name.

The origin of this fable is unknown;

After betraying our Lord Judas, hung himself from a redbud tree, now often called a Judas tree. As Judas hung on the tree the white flowers turned red because the tree was ashamed the betrayer of Christ died on it.

In grief, the tree vowed never again to grow limbs big enough for someone to hang themselves from.

This past winter was harsh here in Wisconsin and I fear too much for my redbud tree.

This tree should be bursting with flowers from every branch.

Half of the tree has blooms at the tips, and the other half is dead.

Just a few scattered flowers on the tips.

The bark of the tree doesn't look very good either.

I loved telling the grandchildren the story of how their grandpa brought the seedlings from the woods and planted them. It has been sixteen years since my husband was killed in an accident and when I have this tree cut down it will feel like I am loosing another piece of him. Life goes on and so I believe I will try to plant a new redbud tree in the same spot. Perhaps I will gather all of my grandchildren to help plant a new tree and make a new memory.