Tree House

We had a large flowering cherry in the back yard at 45 Locust Street in Garden City, Long Island. We moved in during the winter of 1963 and the next spring my father, brother, and I decided to construct a tree house in the cherry tree. The tree’s trunk divided into two large limbs about three feet off the ground. We picked a spot where the limbs leveled off about twenty feet off the ground for the tree house. We purchased two fifteen feet logs at the lumberyard, hoisted them into the tree running from one limb to the other parallel to the ground. So as not to hurt the tree we lashed them around the limbs with hemp rope. The two logs were now level in the tree, and we nailed planks every six inches across the logs. We had our tree house – safe, hidden, secure, and towering above the rest of the neighborhood.

—Dana O'Brien

Chinese Pistache (Pistacia Chinensis)

This Chinese Pistache tree is growing in our front yard. The tree is at least 50 years old—probably older and has been part of our family since we moved here 26 years ago. Rick's grandfather built the house in 1940 and said the majority of the trees were "planted" by the birds. We assume it was a gift from the birds or squirrels. When our children were little we would hide easter eggs in the boughs and around the base, hang Christmas lights and ornaments from the lower branches. It has also served as the final resting place of our most favorite cats who were laid to rest at the base of the tree as this was their favorite place to pass hot summer days. It's funny how something can stir up sweet memories.

—Sue Giari