Japanese Maple earrings Swirl cucumbers and pole beans

cucumbers and pole beans

We were told collecting these leaves brought wealth and abundance

(length) x 4 in

Other figs would be cut crosswise and laid in the sun to dry for making Sykomeda—a cake of figs

Japanese Maple earrings Swirl cucumbers and pole beansAs a child growing up in the Midwest I took solace in a neighbors yard under the canopy of a rather anomalous tree with beautiful lacy purplish red leaves. Later, I learned it was a Japanese Maple which explained its bark scars that looked like slanted eyes kindly watching over me. I spent seasons getting to know this tree. Each spring tiny pointed leaves appeared and within days I could almost watch them emerge into lushness. The tree would send out