@galent This presumes that you live in the same place all your life. Few people do.

@galent I have planted hundreds of trees over the last 40 years. I no longer live at several of the places, but have on occasion driven nearby and waved at them. (Yeah, I’m weird) Been in this place 21 years and one of the seedlings is over 40’ tall now. I keep planting and consider it a gift to the future, like you say.

@galent I got into bonsais when I was young and used to “rescue” seedling trees from being run over by a lawnmower by digging them up and turning them into bonsais. I had a mini forest going. Years later, I went off to college and gave most of them away and left a couple to my mom.
One person planted two crepe myrtles in the front of their house and they got huge. They send me pics every other year. My mom planted one and I’ve used the leaves in my pics for this site.

@galent There’s nothing so optimistic as planting an oak tree.

@galent every new place I have lived in the last 20 years, I have planted an orchard (defined as 5 fruit trees) and shared the produce with kids (friends or in class).

@galent I won't live to see the trees I plant this winter grow to maturity. But hopefully someone will.