Happy Mother’s Day!

How can we acknowledge motherhood? How do we choose a symbol for something as central to our humanity as the very place we grew, the human being who nurtured us before we even knew ourselves? How can we make space for the mothers no longer with us, for the mothers who’ve lost children, or those who could not raise their own?

Of course, there is no simple answer to all this. The complexity and depth of feeling attached to mothers and mothering cannot possibly be contained by a box of chocolates. How then, to mark a day like Mother’s Day?

We think the answer is there in another mother, one who is there for all of us, who has been here for us since the beginning of time. Our own earth. She gave us life, sustains us still, and will always welcome us home no matter how many times we forget to call.

Plant trees for your mum this year. Or for the memory of your mother. Or for a dream of a mother you never knew. None of us would be here if it weren’t for our mothers, and none of us would be here without the earth. We think there is a beautiful connection between acknowledging our own beginnings and the act of planting trees. Both are profound gestures of generosity and gratitude.

Forget the ‘world’s best mum’ coffee cup this year. Plant trees. Plant fifteen of them – a whole bouquet of living green to honour our home, our mothers, and our deep connection to both.

These beautiful words are from our creative writer Sarah Hart. And if you are reading them, chances are you have either purchased trees on the behalf of your mother or you are a mother of an amazing son or daughter who has purchased 15 trees on your behalf. Wishing everyone a lovely Mother’s Day on Sunday.

This year our Mother’s Day trees have been earmarked for 2 sites. One in Australia and one in Africa.

Site 1. Africa. The African site is in Uganda, at the Nawantale Orphanage. A dear friend of Fifteen Trees has a close connection with this orphanage, and when Andrea asked if we could assist in helping to set up their orchard we, of course, said yes. And so 105 fruit trees have been purchased and planted. Stay tuned for updates and photos of the kids and the trees.

Site 2. Australia. At the second site, trees (115) for Mother’s Day have also been planted. These trees went to Mount Worth in Gippsland. The trees have been used to revegetate steep pastoral areas to protect it from landslips. These trees will also improve the habitat for native wild life such as Lyre birds, Giant earthworms and the native species of the rare Burrowing Crayfish. All species important to the web of life.

Happy Mother’s Day to the following women. We have planted 15 trees on your behalf:

• Marie-Claude from Isabelle Nash,
• Maree Harrison,
• Jessie in loving memory from Lynette Ramsay,
• Phillipa Cannon from Georgina and Rob Chew,
• Lyn Ann Wedley from Julian and Tanner,
• Lorna in lovely memory from Lee Palmer,
• Marianne Schrieke from Nicole Simmons,
• Mary Blaiklock from Bronwyn,
• Jule Hudspith from Bronwyn,
• Liz Shotter from Georgie Gallagher.

Writer – Sarah Hart.

Sarah is an artist whose passions include the stories and experiences of women and narrative driven work. Her aim is to delight, to reveal glimpses of everyday beauty and to celebrate flights of the ordinary. Sarah works across a range of media, with an abiding interest in pen and ink, mixed media and the human form. You can find Sarah here.