Trees, Shrubs and Conifers: Heirloom Trees, 1 by starlight1153

starlight1153 wrote:
Ya thanks VV.. I shouldn't have any problem with the Water Oak, or Red Bud. Know they wil do well here. Not sure about The Johnny Apple seed tree though. That another one I wanted.

When I lived in Ohio we used to go to an apple orchard as kids that he went through and when I lived in Indiana went to his grave. Think it woudl be neat to have a piece of that history here. Have to find out what kinda soil and requirements an apple tree needs. I know crabapples grow here, but don't know of anybody who has eating apples.

Thanks for the info on the book Willis. I will have to see if I can find it to read. Sound s like some good reading for the winter.

Mitch.... Here ya go. here the story that those of us who have it have for markers and the pic.

"A young Cherokee Indian couple, the Hillhouse
family, left Georgia on their journey to the designated
Indian Territory with a bag of money from the US
government purchase of their land, a rifle, a blanket
in which to wrap their possessions, two babes in
arms, and a toddler at hand.

One of the possessions carried was a start of a white iris.
Along the way, the money was viewed as a burden to
carry, so was buried. In north Arkansas, seeking
food, a bear was shot and wounded. The wounded
bear made its way to a cavern where Mr. Hillhouse
finished it off. Mr. Hillhouse decided the cavern
would provide shelter for winter so the young couple
and their young family did not continue their journey
to the Indian Territory.

This story was passed down to family decendents by
the family member who was the toddler at hand.
Terry Hillhouse of Hurst, Texas has shared a
division of the iris with her cousin, Judy Ann Jantz of
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma who has, in turn, shared
divisions with fellow gardeners and thus the journey
of this special iris continues and those of us who
grow it know it as The Trail Of Tears Iris."

JudyAnn's words from part of our thread.... A local horticulturalist has done a great deal of research and documentation on the daffodils that were brought to Oklahoma by the Cherokee Indians. She gave a program for our club last spring and told me she had heard of the white iris that was brought. She was thrilled to get on the list to receive some. I had to rescue them with hubby's help from a very invasive canna, which is history now! That's why I'm so late this fall getting them to Ella.

JudyAnn knows how much I cherish historics and trying to save bits and pices of history. She a great lady and a friend. I am honored that she shared with me. They just built a new National Historic building on the ground s where tribes gather every year a few mile s down the road from me. I go every year and as guest am invited into their friendship dances. They almost done, so this year I will present some as a gift to the Chief of the tribe to plant.

Last year I shared a piece with the wife of one of my mentors to plant whose wife is Cherokee and has 40 acreas where tribes still come with teepees and live year round.

Those of us who have it, as it increases are placing pieces of it back in historical sites and with those whose relatives were on that march and who have a love of history and preservation for plants and trees of the past.

Ok back to trees.

VV.... I saw that Elvis tree too and was excited til I saw what it was. Laughed my head off thinking about how well Sweetgum was loved here in these forums. heck everybody should have at least one Elvis tree. ROFLOL.