Meaning of the Apple Blossom: Love, Truth, Peace, Beauty, Honesty, Remembrance, and Hope of Better Things to Come
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The old apple tree at the farm was in full bloom last week. As I strolled beneath its blossom laden branches the sweet perfume of the flowers was intoxicating. The light aroma skipped on the wind enchanting my senses and lifting my soul to the heights of heaven.
I sat on the earths cushion beneath the tree looking up at the soft hues of pink, white, and green against the expanse of cloudless blue sky feeling sheltered by the exquisite beauty and peacefulness being offered by its bower. 
Love planted this tree long ago, love of fruit, love of farming, and love of family. The tree was a gift to an avid gardener from one of her daughters. I sat remembering when the tree was but a twig and how she nurtured and cared for it year after year even though it bore no fruit. Life is like that sometimes. We hope and pray and strive towards something that seems like we are making a fruitless effort.
Gardeners, in my opinion, possess one of the most beautiful attributes of God, patience. She faithfully and patiently tended the tree, staking its tender trunk enough so that it could bend with the wind and learn to be flexible but not bound so tightly that it would break in a storm. Her patient love taught her family those same lessons.Her love and care for the twig like tree was done with the attitude of hope of better things to come. The twig strengthened into a sturdy trunk and began to branch out over time until one day little blossoms came to life and she knew her work would soon be rewarded with the sweet first born fruits.
We stood side by side one warm sunny spring day inhaling the fragrant beauty of the finally full grown tree. Her hands were clasp behind her in her familiar stance as she gently rocked back on her bare heels enjoying the feel of the new grass underfoot. A wispy whistle-like hum blew across her lips into my ear, a long ago tune from her girlhood days.The hum became words set to the tune, "...after the glory of the blossoms, comes the fruit of the apple..." I did not ask her at the time what she meant by those words, I just listened. All these years later I realize her lesson, our efforts are never fruitless, sometimes it just takes a while to see the fruit.
The old tree has bloomed and produced fruit many times over the years. Savory pies, sweet jams, tasty apple sauce, and fresh apple cake have been some of the blessed benefits of her efforts at preserving the fruit.Her simple lesson of the apple blossom floated down upon me with a shower of petals loosened by the wind, and I thought I might have heard the low whistle-hum of the enduring gardener who taught me that patient persistence will result in glorious blooms, the hope of better things to come, as I wait for the sweet fruit that follows, the remembrance of this lesson well worth preserving.
I thought you might enjoy a taste of my Granny's cake so I am sharing her recipe below:
GRANNY GREGG'S FRESH APPLE CAKE
2 Cups raw apples, peeled, cored, and sliced thin
1 Cup sugar
1 Egg, lightly beaten
1 1/2 Cups flour - sifted with 1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 Cup oil
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon allspice
2 Cups chopped pecans
1 Cup coconut flakes (optional)
Cover raw apples with sugar and let stand for 20 minutes. Add beaten egg, stir well. Add remaining ingredients, stir well. Pour into buttered pan and bake 1 hour in a preheated 350 degree oven. Store in refrigerator.
Below are a few free apple blossom images for you to save and use in your art. Enjoy!
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I hope each of you have a weekend filled with fragrant beauty!
Blessings,
Miss Sandy
Blessings,
Miss Sandy
8 comments:
Beautiful apple blossom images and the music pages are so nice. Thanks for sharing that. Your blog is also so inpirational. Many Smiles, Carol Mae
Thank you for sharing your recipe. I'm going to copy it and wait for our apple harvest and give it a try. I love the images you presented, your Granny, the blossoms, the music and art, so sweetly reminding me of the fruit to come. Elaine
what a lovely apple tree story! it was
beautifully written, moving, and
inspiring. thank you!
soon, i am going to share a fun story
about the 100 year old live oak on our
property now. :)
Dear Sandy, I loved your apple blossom story, and the freebies, are so very sweet, thanks,so much.
ALSO THANKS A LOT FOR THE BEAUTIFULL SPRING GIVEAWAY, I JUST GOT IN MY MAIL TODAY.I LOVE THIS LITTLE LOVELY PIECE,IN ALL ITS SPRING COLOURS, AND THE GLITTER,YUM.tHANKS SO MUCH MISS SANDY-IT ALREADY HANGS IN MY STUDIO,TO BRIGHTEN MY DAYES,THERE.
HUGS,DORTHE
Sandy, thank you for sharing your memories. I remember the fruit tree in my Gramma's back yard too, sitting on the grass and looking up at the oh-so-blue sky behind the pink and white blossoms. It's one of my fondest memories from when we lived with her and my Grampa. She died too young...
Hugs,
Diane
Hi Miss Sandy! Aren't grandmothers just the Bestest, Most wonderful and wise people in the world!!! What would we do without grandmothers! Your Granny sounds like my Nanny. She loved to garden and putter around outside... I miss her so....
What a beautiful message! Thank you! By the way, your "Post a Comment" link is almost invisible to me due to the color of the text on the color of the background. Almost didn't find it.
Thank you for the music for my apple tree pics. Sandra
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