Nature does nothing uselessly…Aristotle

In every walk with Nature one receives far more than he seeks…John Muir

PURPOSE

As Spring turns to Summer it is time for showcasing Paulownia trees again. They have been in bloom this month, growing wild in the woods and along the edge of forests. I am only aware of them when they bloom in the spring. The blossoms are fragrant and beautiful, a lovely sapphire blue, not unlike wisteria, and hang in clumps. The Paulownia is native to China and Japan and has been grown there for centuries. It is revered. It is one of the few hardwoods that can growback solely from the root and is only slightly heavier than balsa wood.

In China, the tree is planted at the birth of a girl. The fast-growing tree matures when she does. When she is eligible for marriage the tree is cut down and carved into wooden articles for her dowry. Carving the wood of Paulownia is an art form in Japan and China. Several Asian string instruments are made from the Paulownia, including the Japanese Koto and the Korean Gayageum Zithers.

Every living thing in this world has a place and a purpose and a beauty all its own.