A new meaning to 'ever' green

By MaryHelen Swanson
Bill and Jean Peno still have their most amazing Christmas tree up and decorated. Amazing, you say?
The tree, a balsam, which Bill planted about 12 years ago at his rural Rush City farm, was cut fresh shortly before Christmas. Decorated in blue lights and shiny blue ornaments - Jean loves blue ñ the tree is doing something that is puzzling a lot of people.
The Penoís daughter first noticed it on Christmas. There, on the ends of the branches, were tiny buds starting to grow. The tree, apparently unaware that it has been separated from its roots, has been sprouting new growth with little ìcandlesî appearing not just at the ends, but all along the branches.
And it continues to grow more each day. During a visit early this week, the new growth was abundant and in some places well over an inch long.
The Penos, especially Bill who said he loves trees, have never seen anything like it before.
And neither has any of the members of Billís coffee group at the bakery in Cambridge. Surprised by the new growth, Peno has taken a few snips of branches and shown them around. He hasnít met anyone yet who is familiar with this phenomena.
Itís not that Peno is a stranger around trees. In 1962 he planted 10,000 trees at his farm, by hand, ìwhich was quite a job,î he said.
He planted 2,000 more around the yard for a windbreak. In fact, heís planted a lot of trees and plants to attract and provide homes to wildlife. Today, the Penoís home is hidden behind a veritable forest of pine and hardwoods.
They now have a dilemma: do they toss the tree out and let it die ñ a second time ñ or do they leave it up and allow it to continue growing in their living room. And when they do decide to remove the tree, will it have produced roots so it can be replanted?
While they decide what becomes of the ever green evergreen, the warmth of Christmas and promise of spring continues to dwell in their home and in this cold, cold weather, perhaps that isnít all bad.

Top of Page

©ECM Post Review

6448 Main Street
North Branch, MN 55056
Telephone: 651-674-7025
Fax: 651-674-7026
E-mail: editor.postreview@ecm-inc.com