Transplanting the Family Tree

If you ever attempt to grow a tree from a seedling you must carefully nurture the young sapling from it's vegetative infancy to it's maturity.

Along the way there are times when it is necessary to move that tree from one container to another in order for further growth to occur and for the plant to remain healthy and not become root bound.

The plants growth and the size it will be at maturity are part of the determining factors used for choosing the appropriate container in which to transplant the young tree.

The species of plant can be altered by cross pollenation and grafting. Our family tree was grafted from branches of the Hurley's and the Cowan's. Both of these individual family trees have fairly deep roots and the growth has been substantial over the years and decades with roots going back to the 1100's in the south of Ireland (Hurley) and the late 13th century in Scotland (Cowan-McGowan -Robert the Bruce).

Many times our tree has been uprooted and replanted. The fruit of the tree has also endured these times of uprooting and transplanting. Some of the pots in which we were transplanted were wonderful, beautiful, and promoted growth and well -being. Others were broken and chipped, almost foretelling the neglect and stagnation that would take place while planted there. Although outwardly it would seem the family tree was just existing there were periods of bright light and life in some of these lesser containers. But like a neglected plant left behind on the back patio after a move, at those times the tree was mostly hanging on, stagnant and wanting for moisture and nutrition.

One such transplantation took place in 1957 when my parents left Belfast, in order to provide a better life for their children. Apparently California was the place they ought to be. At the time of this move there were just two children. They were four and almost two years old. The four year old, my oldest sister, would have an Irish accent since she was born there and learned to talk while still in Ireland. My brother would not as he wasn't yet speaking and learned to speak in America.

So from the streets of Belfast, more specifically Andersontown, to Santa Barbara, CA. and into a garage apartment. I am not sure how long or the exact location of this first 'home' in the ''land of opportunity' but I know that the next was to an apartment above Pat's Liquor on Milpas Street, where my father would work from open to close, 7 days a week. My parents and oldest brother and sister lived above the store, which provided income, a roof over their heads and one of the worlds' shortest commutes.

So here they are in the 'new world'. The roots of the old sod were cut and they are now starting to live and hoping to thrive in a new home, far from those they know and love but soon to have new friends, new dreams of a new house and a new car and a bright new future. Many different containers would hold this family tree as the years passed. Many different shapes and sizes, each with unique qualities and flaws, much like the offspring and the tree itself.

After a flight on a Douglas DC-3 and with $700 dollars the tree was on new soil. The tree was about to grow and flourish and there would be much fruit produced. The Gardener Of Design didn't approve of pruning or isolating the pollen from the flower. (He also apparently isn't too concerned with the feeding, clothing and nurturing of the fruit that results.) Religion and 'the troubles' were a constant theme on this new branch of this particular family tree and each new container was blessed by and visited by representatives of the Gardener Of Design. It wasn't until this particular offspring realized that growing and flourishing and striving could actually be obtained with no gardener that the Gardener Of Design himself and his representatives were banished from the garden.

My mom and oldest brother and sister in 1958 on the steps of the Santa Barbara Mission.
Interesting thing is this picture is taken only 23 years after the Mission was shattered by an earthquake in 1925.