 |
Robinia - pseudoacacia
|
Written on 4th of July, 2014
Two years ago, when the man I love was looking for the house we can grow our family in, here, in Northern Virginia, he had one thing in mind: he wanted to find a property with a similar atmosphere to that of the old summer home (εξοχικό σπίτι) of my uncle in Anavissos, in Greece. In that home, I used to spend most of my summers, where I was painting and cooking, from where I was going for long morning swims.… For over five years, I spent there three summer months…. alone, because, my uncle was at that time in London UK, where his only daughter, my cousin Maria, is living. My parents and my brothers were spending their summers not far away, in Glyfada, so an old house in Anavissos was a great place, where I could be alone when I wanted to, and I could go to my parents and had a company if I needed one … I was a house-sitter “en plein air” the only thing is: I never paint outdoors and rely on my memory when painting a nature…
One day in June 2012, in the garden of that house, under the acacia tree, I had a “very important” conversation with the man who became my soul mate and my lover, who gave me a world of passion, simplicity, and purity, I had never experienced before, who has given to me a completely new life. He had never forgotten the scent of acacia of that afternoon. And in July 2012, in Virginia, he has seen the house with acacia tree looking into the windows of the master bedroom. He knew he had found our home. We later called it Villa Agapantus.
Our acacia tree survived a few attempts on its life. My father-in-law is convinced that it is a “messy” tree, produces “sticky things” and its roots system is so elaborate and well developed that no other plant can live in the nearest neighborhood, acacia takes all the nutrients from the ground …takes them all. Every summer my husband has a long discussion with his father about the acacia, advocating for our tree... and always saving it.
“Besides”, my husband said, “it is not even a real acacia”…and this is true. The acacia tree in my uncle’s garden in Greece is a real one, from the family of Mimosas. It has yellow blooms with honey fresh smell of something familiar, delicate, and forgotten. In spite of that special scent the branches of acacia have thorns. In Greek ἀκίς -akis means thorn. The name acacia derives from ἀκακία- akakia – the thorn tree. This name was given to the tree in the Antiquity by Πεδάνιος Διοσκουρίδης – Pedanios Dioscouridis, a Roman Army surgeon, who was….a Greek man.
He was the first one who discovered a special beauty of the acacia tree and its medicinal properties. He was the first who described them. The acacia tree was used to reduce stomach and throat inflammations. Πεδάνιος Διοσκουρίδης – Pedanios Dioscouridis had written -Περὶ ὕλης ἰατρικῆς- which was translated into Latin as - De Materia Medica – About the Medical Materials. Dioscouridis was not only a physician and a military man, but a dreamer and a scientist who was searching for medical substances during his long and frequent military postings…His 5-volumes encyclopedia was read as an important source of medical treatments for over 1500 years.
He was the first one who discovered a special beauty of the acacia tree and its medicinal properties. He was the first who described them. The acacia tree was used to reduce stomach and throat inflammations. Πεδάνιος Διοσκουρίδης – Pedanios Dioscouridis had written -Περὶ ὕλης ἰατρικῆς- which was translated into Latin as - De Materia Medica – About the Medical Materials. Dioscouridis was not only a physician and a military man, but a dreamer and a scientist who was searching for medical substances during his long and frequent military postings…His 5-volumes encyclopedia was read as an important source of medical treatments for over 1500 years.
As to our American acacia tree, it is not a real acacia, it is a fake one, my husband frequently tells that to his father. After all, we live in America and fake things are more common here than anywhere else. The tree in front of our bedroom's window is Robinia pseudoacacia, from the family of Peas, and imitates real acacia very well; has intensely fragrant flowers, which are a bit similar to the scent of the orange blossoms, it has also some medicinal properties.
Our “acacia” is well protected by my husband from all sorts of perils. Every morning after his shower he stands by the window, checking out if the tree is there. The acacia is a silent witness of our life.
It always blooms in June; it bloomed before my sons were born, before the birthdays of my husband.
Last night, the man I love was watching the acacia tree before going to sleep.
- Η μυρωδιά των λουλουδιών της ακακίας είναι ένα άρωμα της αγάπης μας, το ξέρεις αυτό; - Ρώτησε.
-The scent of the acacia blossom it‘s the fragrance of our love. Do you know that? – He asked.
-The scent of the acacia blossom it‘s the fragrance of our love. Do you know that? – He asked.
- Ναι, το ξέρω - Απάντησα.
- Yes, I know that - I answered.
- Yes, I know that - I answered.
