Ryall, M. E. (2005, December, Volume 12, Issue 12). Senior center trees
bring pleasant memories. Washburn County Senior Focus, p. 5.
SENIOR CENTER TREES BRING PLEASANT MEMORIES
By Mary Ellen Ryall
Living next door to the Minong Senior Citizens Center, I am able to see a
few special trees that grow in front of the building from my living room picture window.
The center was started some 26 years ago, and Dorothy De Jong, one of the original members
says, “The trees were donated by individual members.” She remembers American
Ash, as little saplings, being donated first. Then came the cedar trees and a few years
later, two apple trees were planted. I am able to see the apple trees in all four seasons.
In winter they stand in dark bared limbs. Spring finds them dressed in a shower of sweet
scented blossoms. Summer I watch as the tiny shaped apples grow and become mature fruit.
And in fall, I watch the comings and goings of the apple trees.
In between rain showers on day, I saw a mother pushing a baby carriage down the street. A
skinny brown dog looking bored accompanied her, and I noticed a black umbrella dangling
from her wrist. She stopped at the smaller of the apple trees and picked an apple. I
watched as the red headed woman took a bite. Afterwards, the trio continued walking down
the street.
Ed Ludwig mentioned he had been picking apples from these trees for about three years now.
One year, he climbed up a ladder to pick apples from the top of a tree and grabbing one,
he was stung by a small bee and felt sick from the experience. Turns out he had a reaction
to the bee sting.
Throughout the fall season, deer come to the trees and eat the fallen apples on the
ground. I noticed that small creatures also like to nibble on the fruit. I too have picked
fallen apples and
Page 2 Senior Center Trees Bring Pleasant Memories
made delicious apple juice and applesauce from them. Never taking them all, I always leave
some for the deer and critters because they know these trees and come every year.
Talking with Cathy Lewis, she mentioned that Ed Ludwig picked apples for her this year.
She sliced them up and put them in the freezer. Cathy celebrated her 95th birthday on
November 20th and said, “I am going to make something with some the apples
then.” Cathy also mentioned that Ed could expect a holiday pie or two.
One day, I saw a small blue car pull up into the center’s driveway and a senior
pulled a ladder out of the vehicle. I recognized the individua. Although I don’t know
his name, we waved to each other. Soon the top apples from the trees were completely gone.
I wondered if the apple pickers knew how good apples were for them? It turns out the fruit
is full of nutrition.
Apples are helpful in controlling weight because they are low in calories. The fruit is a
good source of pectin, an important fiber, which lowers LDL (bad) cholesterol. Fructose, a
naturally occurring sugar in apples gets absorbed more slowly in the body, and apples
don’t spike blood glucose levels, like other sugars, making the fruit a good choice
for diabetics. Chewing an apple stimulates the gums and increases saliva, which sweetens
the breath and reduces bacteria in the mouth. I guess the old saying, “An apple a day
keeps the doctor away,” is good advice.
Two little apple trees grow year round in front of the Minong Senior Citizens Center, and
I enjoy seeing the trees bring beauty, nutrition, and pleasant thoughts of seniors. And
delightfully, the fruit trees also bring occasional animals and young visitors too.
Mary Ellen Ryall, Certified Food Safety Educator, is the owner of Happy Tonics. The
organization promotes organic gardening and publishes articles about food safety issues.
The website can be viewed at http://www.happytonics.org
|
 Apple
blossoms.
Ripening apples.
|
