Home town trees

I grow up in a tiny village in the central of China. A village hugged by trees. 

Aspens stand straight like a guard, from which you can hear singing of cicada in middle summer. Locust trees blossom in spring, the flowers of which are usually picked up and cooked as food, one of the favorite foods of kids. Tung-trees offer people shadows with their large leaves in summer. It was quite soothing to take a rest at noon under these shadows after a half day's hard work on farmlands. 

There is a small brook in front the village, though often without water. Some willows stand on the inner side of the brook. They sprout in spring, growing new tender green branches, hanging down over the brook. When wind comes, they will sway, look like waving hands to us. Kids would break off a small twig and make a whistle from it. It was cool. At primary school, I read a poem titled Intoning the Willow, composed by an ancient Chinese poet He Zhizhang, comparing its leaves to jades. 

We also used to plant many kinds of fruit trees, pear trees, peach trees, jujube trees, persimmon trees for example. The rich soil and favorable climate help them to bear enough fruits for the mouth of kids. 

I owe my simple and happy childhood to the beautiful countryside scenery, the refreshing air and the trees.

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