End Willow

We lost the end willow tree at Roshara this past week. It succumbed to the nearly eight inches of rain we had during the week and storms that knocked out our power for most of two days.

The Coombes family planted that old black willow tree in 1912, the first tree in a long row of them. The willow trees provided a windbreak from the summer storms and winter blasts for 105 years—they still do. But their leader, the first in line thus the title “end willow,” is now gone. A twisted mass of broken branches and fractured trunk.

During our early years at Roshara, our kids played in that old tree, climbed it, played games under it, saw it as a friend. For my first book, THE LAND STILL LIVES, I featured that old tree as a character in the book.

On Friday, my son, Steve—who had played in that old tree—and son-in-law Paul sawed up enough of the tree so we could use our driveway once more. (See Photo above.) But we decided to leave most of it where it fell. It seemed only fitting that in death it should remain where it had lived for more than a hundred years: protecting the farmstead, providing a place for kids to play, and leaving behind so many memories.

THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Remembering an old tree that has so many stories to tell.

SPECIAL NOTICE: My newest book, “Old Farm Country Cook book” (with my daughter), Sue is just off the presses. It should be in the bookstores in a week or two. See notes below for upcoming launches of the book.

WRITER’S WORKSHOP: Friday, August 18, 9-4:00 p.m. The Clearing, Door County.
Call 920-854-4088. Limited enrollment.


UPCOMING EVENTS:

Friday July 7, 7:30, Village Booksmith, Baraboo, WI

Wednesday, July 12, 7:00 p.m. Middleton Public Library. Launch of Sue’s and my new book: OLD FARM COUNTRY COOKBOOK.

Wednesday, July 26, (time to be announced) Patterson Memorial Library, Wild Rose. Central Wisconsin launch of OLD FARM COUNTRY COOKBOOK.

Saturday, July 29, 1:00 p.m. Symco Thresheree , Symco, WI

Purchase Jerry’s DVDS and his Books from the Patterson Memorial Library in Wild Rose, Wisconsin (a fundraiser for them):

The library now has available signed copies of Jerry’s DVDs:

Emmy Winner, A Farm Winter with Jerry Apps (based on The Quiet Season book.)
Jerry Apps a Farm Story (based on Rural Wit and Wisdom and Old Farm books.)
The Land with Jerry Apps, (based on the book Whispers and Shadows.)

Also available are several of Jerry’s signed books including: Jerry’s newest nonfiction book, Never Curse the Rain, and his newest novel, The Great Sand Fracas of Ames County. Also available are Wisconsin Agriculture: A History,
Roshara Journal (with photos by Steve Apps) and Telling Your Story—a guide book for those who want to write their own stories.

Contact the library for prices and special package deals.
Patterson Memorial Library
500 Division Street
Wild Rose, WI 54984
barnard@wildroselibrary.org
www.wildroselibrary.org
920-622-3835