Seeing as leap day is on a Saturday this year, I thought it would be a perfect excuse to do something good and as a family. It always feels like an extra, free day to me. We had to mark it in some way.
So we packed everyone and the hound into the car and headed off to our local tree nursery. It’s not too far and always has a good range. It rained and hailed and the sun came out too, as we walked down the aisles of trees. Everyone had their favourites. We’ll be back for an eating cherry and pear in the near future. The children really want an ornamental cherry too.
The hound enjoyed the walk in a slightly more tamed and varied forest than we usually take him.
In the end, we bought a hornbeam, although I was really tempted by the twisted hazel, but until we landscape it would be lost in our garden.
Next job was to choose a spot and plant the tree. True to form, as the spade cut the turf, it started hailing. Never has a tree been planted so quickly, but with such care. I snapped a few photos before everyone headed back to the house. With frozen hands.
So, we now have a hornbeam. Our leap day tree. Every four years, we’ll give it a little extra attention and marvel at it’s growth.
And probably still be talking about how we planted it, as a family, in the freezing hail.
This is a great idea – never thought of marking leap year before! #MMBC
Trees are so slow growing that a four year anniversary makes a lot of sense.
What a great thing to do as a family! It sounds like you really made the most of the extra day x
Got to make the most of an extra day. 🙂
what a lovely idea! Something to celebrate every four years, and memories made.
Absolutely. I’m hoping I won’t forget in four years time.