A small lovely tree grows outside — close, almost touching my office window. It affords me privacy and keeps me company whilst I write at the desk inside, below it. For a long time, the tree was dense — filled with delicate green leaves and big pink flowers in season. It provided a home for tiny chirping birds who went about their business flying from branch to branch and sitting on very small nests.

Over the years, the tree had thinned and flowers were a sometime, if ever, thing. Fewer birds still greeted me in the morning and at odd times during the day. But flowers hadn’t appeared for a while.

Coincidentally, I have been going through a difficult changing time in my life. Along with a devastating computer crash, I lost some friends and some work I loved. My two wise gurus consoled me with their usual good advice. “Look at it this way — the things that have closed for you are just making room for something wonderful that is about to happen. ”

The other day when I opened the shutters, one large pink flower in full bloom appeared, with its stem pointed straight at my window as if to greet me. I caught my breath and stood mesmerized at the beauty and proximity of the lone pink flower.

For seven days, the flower greeted me when I opened the shutters. I took it as a sign of encouragement, and I smiled.

On the eighth day, when I opened the shutters, the flower was wizened and its branch was turned to the side. My heart fell. Then my eyes caught an upper branch on which was a beautiful new pink flower in full bloom with its stem pointed directly at my window. Not to worry, it seemed to indicate. It was her time to go, but I am here for you.

Now, I’d like to tell you that on that very day a fairy godmother appeared, waving her magic wand. I got calls from various agents to write a film, a large sum of money appeared in my bank account from a recently deceased relative, and the man of my dreams appeared at my door riding a white horse.

But no such things happened. Instead, using my very own magic wand, I registered for several classes, joined some new clubs, found someone who could fix my computer and someone else who would help me turn my columns into a book. And, whaddya know, a man on a white bicycle stopped by. Most of all, I stopped worrying and feeling sad and started feeling good.

Just one thing still bothers me: What if the pink flowers stop blooming again?

By Ellen Van Houten is a Village resident. Contact her at ellenmay@gmail.com

The mission of the Saddleback College Emeritus Institute is to promote lifelong learning by providing academically rigorous, mentally stimulating, socially engaging, and health improving classes for older adult students throughout south Orange County.

Laguna Woods Yacht Club is dedicated to the joy and skills of sailing. We provide both on and off the water activities. Members interested in sailing can ride along and watch for dolphins or be more actively involved in sailing the vessel. Members may also choose to participate in our wide range of non-sailing social activities.

We are a non-profit organization sanctioned by the Golden Rain Foundation of Laguna Woods Village, located in Laguna Woods California, USA.

The Theatre Guild of Laguna Woods is a non-profit organization founded in 1966. The purpose of the club is to develop, promote & foster the expertise, appreciation, fellowship & enjoyment of the theatre experience for both the club members and the community at large. All events are for Village Residents and their guests. Come join the fun!

Aliso Creek Tree Walk Guide

The tall, leafy giants freckled throughout Laguna Woods Village may often be overlooked to the untrained eye. Although each tree’s story may seem frivolous to some, there’s actually a significance to each element of the peaceful plants.

Anaheim Hills-based Arbor Pro – whose clients include more than 200 cities nationwide – is set to launch a software system that will catalog Laguna Woods Village’s tree species, conditions and maintenance history.

Keeping an in-depth record of every one of the 35,000-plus trees in the Village at first sounds extreme, but documenting the story of each tree can help keep the “woods” in Laguna Woods thriving.

“It’s basically a management software program that is a complete, overall summary of an urban forest,” Arbor Pro area manager Jeff Davidson said.

Arbor Pro’s tracking of data will result in more efficient trimming and pruning, Davidson said. The software also tracks costs, specifically pertaining to hours performed for a person doing tree maintenance work, he said.

“It manages (the trees) from start to finish, so it allows (landscapers) to know when they started and when they finished,” Davidson said. “It also records all of the work history involved to protect against liability, or trees falling down and damaging property.”

Laguna Woods has among the highest value of trees within the Arbor Pro system, Arbor Pro President Keith Hennig said – about $128 million.

Arbor Pro uses a GPS map, via Google, that shows the precise location of each tree. Users can click on a tree and its information will be displayed.
Surveying and documenting the Village’s trees began mid-September, Davidson said, by certified arborists who were trained by him in the field.

“(Arbor Pro) will be a huge time saver,” said John Parker, Golden Rain Foundation landscape committee chair.

“In addition to that, work will be done not only by cul de sac, but can be done by the species, because you can click on a tree and locate where it’s at in the Village.”

Arbor Pro software also can estimate the monetary value of the trees in specified areas of the the Village, Henning said, which is helpful for future projects. For example, if there is a potential to remove a group of trees, the user can highlight the group and see the dollar amount of its worth.

It can also keep track of which trees may contain pests, which is useful to contain any spreading, he said.

The software should be live and working by the end of this week, Davidson said.

Arbor Pro is primarily a tool for the landscape department, Parker said. “But in addition, with its ability to locate physical locations, it probably will be used for other departments because it can locate streetlights and transformers.”

Although only landscape staff will have access to Arbor Pro in the first stages, there is potential for limited public access as well.

The breadth of public usage is still in discussion, Parker said, but will likely include access to tree species and locations.

The Theatre Guild of Laguna Woods is a non-profit organization founded in 1966. The purpose of the club is to develop, promote & foster the expertise, appreciation, fellowship & enjoyment of the theatre experience for both the club members and the community at large. All events are for Village Residents and their guests. Come join the fun!

Where the Arts Come Alive

Standing as the focal point of our Performing Arts Center is the 814-seat theatre complete with rehearsal and dressing rooms. Take a seat and enjoy a variety of special events, musicals, seminars and theatrical performances. The Performing Arts Center also features two large dining rooms, each with a fully equipped kitchen and conference room. A billiards room with six pool tables completes this destination spot.