Margaret Cheasebro

Though the soil is starting to cool down as temperatures drops below freezing during parts of the day, soil may still be warm enough to plant a tree. When soil is still somewhat warm, trees feel less stress after you plant them. They have an easier time adjusting to their new environment.

During this time of year, trees in many parts of the country are in the process of going dormant. A newly planted tree this time of year will not have to share as much of its energy with budding blossoms and spurts of root growth as it would if it were planted in the spring.

If you're thinking about planting a tree this time of year, visit one or more nurseries near where you live. Ask the people who work there what kinds of trees grow best at this time of year in your locality. People who work in nurseries are very knowledgeable about plants, and they will be glad to share with you what they know about planting trees.

They can even tell you how big a hole you should dig for the tree, what kinds of soil enhancers to put in the hole, and a lot of other information that will help your tree survive well during the winter.

When you decide where you're going to plant the new tree in your yard, take time to thank the soil and your yard for welcoming the new tree. It may sound silly to express your gratitude in that way, but the essence of your gratitude will create a warm, loving energy. When people express their thanks to us, it usually lifts our spirits. The same is true for all living things, even soil and trees.

When you bring home the tree and place it in the hole you've dug for it, tell the tree how happy you are that it has become part of your yard. Express your gratitude to it. The tree will capture the essence of your emotions. It will help the tree to feel good about being in your yard.

Next spring when trees and other plants come out of dormancy, spend time near the young tree. Continue to express your thanks for it, and let it know how grateful you are to see it growing. If you do that, don't be surprised to see how well it thrives.

May all of you who plant a tree in your yard now discover how powerful gratitude can be when you express it to others, including trees.

A juniper tree in my front yard has an interesting shape. Its main trunk died sometime before I bought the property. I had the trunk cut down to a stump. The tree remains alive, because two large branches grow out of one side of the stump. Those branches thrive. They stand tall, as though they are another tree.

A couple of years ago, the tree branches started looking sick. Some of their needles turned brown. I couldn't figure out why, because they got plenty of water. I hosed water all around the base of the stump, especially on the side that supported the two branches. In spite of getting that water, the branches didn't improve.

One day I decided to pour water into the hole in the center of the stump. That stump guzzled the water. No matter how much water I poured into that hole, it wanted more. Eventually, water reached the top of the stump hole and began to spill over. Its thirst had finally been quenched.

After watering the juniper that way for a few days, the branches began to look healthier. The needles grew green again. The tree began to thrive. Ever since then, I have watered that tree through the hole in the middle of its stump. The tree continues to thrive!

That experience with the juniper made me wonder how often we think we are nurturing ourselves when maybe we're not. Are we giving ourselves what we really need, or are we missing what will help us thrive? Whatever that missing thing is, when we find it and provide ourselves with more of it, we start feeling better. Fun, adventure and delight return to us.

What does it take to find that special thing that will return enthusiasm to us? I suspect it will be unique for each of us. To find it, pay attention to what you long for. It could be something quite simple, or it might be more complex.

The key is to pay attention to how you feel, what you wish for, what you miss. When you find whatever that hole in the stump is for you, give it more of whatever it is you've been wishing for, needing, or wanting. Do it consistently, and you may find yourself thriving just like my juniper tree.