gaelen & azahar
This was so timely! About a month or so ago my friend and neighbour Flor (aka Flor de Jardín) told me she had a lovely orange tree that she wanted to give me, to put in the very beautiful, and massive, ornate clay pot that had been left behind by previous tenant Rafael. This is in part because Flor will be spending more time at her wonderful property in the Algarve and less at her place here, at least for now. So she has been giving some of her plants away to people she knew would appreciate and care for them.
And so today was the day. Mostly because it coincided with Flor having arranged for her friend to carry the tree over from her place (about a block away) and lug it up the stairs to my terrace. And then we set about getting it re-homed in a manner that Flor was happy about. This meant having previously drilled proper drainage holes in the bottom of this large clay beast and then buying bags and bags of earth early this morning, and still not having quite enough but I can top it up a bit later. It also meant finding the perfect spot, which ended up being next to the dining table and out of the direct blazing sun (though it still gets plenty of light!). It’s hard to see in this great photo with Flor, but the part where the top of the tree is out of sight is actually an open space between that pillar and the wall of the house. So lots of room to grow.
Of course Flor knew I was the perfect person for this beautiful tree because it meant that I could finally have my very own azahar…
And it was only after Flor and her helpers left when it occurred to me that this would be Pat’s tree too. You know how people plant trees or have park benches installed in the name of a lost loved one? Well, this orange tree will be my memorial to Pat. Gaelen & azahar – which is how we knew each other when we first met - together on a sunny Sevilla rooftop.
I know this would have made Pat smile.
The tree makes a gorgeous new addition to the terrace, and it is even more beautiful given that it commemorates your friend Pat.
I doubt there will be a better cared for orange tree in all of Seville.
“I know this would have made Pat smile.”
I’m sure it would and I think that is lovely.
That tree is so “you”, and a nice tribute to Pat. I always think of oranges when I think of Sevilla, thanks to you!
That’s beautiful. It brings tears to my eyes.
It’s a lovely orange tree.
Yes this and all of your thoughts would have made Pat smile! I know that you all made the last precious moments of her life better. As her brother I can say you were all part of Pat’s family and I personally thank you for that,
Thanks Jeff. And everyone. It’s quite something that now when I go up to the terraza I see the tree and say “hi Pat”… it still hurts now but I know that in time it will become a daily greeting that is full of happiness for having had the chance to know such a wonderful person.
I love orange trees. So beautiful.
The woman who lived in the apartment below my husband and I had a beautiful orange tree that she told me she was going to give me just before she moved to BC. I made the mistake of mentioning that fact to my sister. The next day I went over to my mother’s house and there was “my” orange tree. My sister started going on about how she “just by chance” went across to “visit” and the woman had “insisted” she take the tree as Deannie had mentioned how much she had “always wanted an orange tree”. I was furious because my sister was always doing things like this. I was even more furious when I saw the condition of it less than a year later and when she finally killed it a few months after that.