My Banana Story
Once about a time in the spring of 2001 I ventured off on my bike for a nice spring ride in my neighborhood in New Orleans. I noticed a stump of some kind just trashed in the front of a house I passed near the curve . I did a double take, and turned my bike around to take a closer look. I was a little curious because during that time I was interested in finding something new to plant in my barren yard. I was especially interested in bamboo plants, elephant ears and banana trees. These things grow so wild in this semitropical climate. Many folks dug up these trees in a vain attempts to control nature.
Looks like I hit the jack pot, I thought to myself. Upon closer inspection I was able to verify that it was a banana tree of some sort. There are so many different varieties grown in New Orleans. Heck, it could have been a plantain tree, I wouldn’t know until it bore fruit.
The stump of this banana tree was huge. I wondered, how in the world am I going to get this thing on the back of my bike. I was determined and wasn’t going to leave that place until that stump was on my bike or in my position in some form or fashion.
Someone neatly placed this tree on the curve. I finally commandeered a way to attach it on the back of my bike. As I rode home, I prayed that this big stump wouldn’t fall off. It was a challenge, keeping the bike balanced, but I did it.
I was so happy when I made it home with this wonderful prize. I have always seen these lovely Crescent City Banana trees gracefully adoring the yards of many people through out the city.
Let me tell you a quick story. One day my mother and I drove to the post office near city hall. I went out of the car for some reason and in front of me were the most beautifully ripped bananas just ready to be picked. As I recall this little story which took place in my youth so many yeas ago, I can almost picture the entire scene in slow motion. There I was reaching slowly for a nice ripe banana, and from a distance, I heard my mother screaming “Cara, noooooooo,” and my hands froze in time just before I touched those beauties- and the story ended. I have no recollection of what happened next. I have never seen those banana threes at city hall since those days.
Well now I finally had my own banana three, compliments of some unknown neighbor in the 7th Ward.
I planted the tree stump hoping it would take root and grow. I had no idea what to expect. It would have been wonderful to have a beautiful graceful tropical tree in my yard. I don’t know how long it took for that huge stump to take root, but once it did, there was no stopping it. This tree grew like crazy. To date I have never seen a banana tree as tall as this one. In fact , let me make a correction. This tree happened to be
something like a plantain and a banana mix.
The tree became my pride and joy. It bore so many countless bananas. It fed many birds and people. As one grew, a younger one was ready to take its place in my yard. I positioned this beautiful tree in different locations in my yard. In the front, back, side of the house.
Right before I left New Orleans my wonderful tree was loaded with about 50 bananas or more. I cut the branch, and sat the entire stalk on my kitchen counter top. I don’t know why I did this. It was the last time I saw this tree alive. After Katrina all my banana trees died. I prayed that they would return to their glorious state one day after the earth settled, and was cleansed after the toxic stew left by Hurricane Katrina.
Year one, no banana trees in site, year two, no banana trees, year three none.
The irony of this story is that when I came home on one of my numerous visits recently four years after Hurricane Katrina, I noticed a banana tree growing in my neighbors yard. Some how one of my banana tree had made its way through its root system in the neighbor’s yard. I asked myself many questions as I look at MY BANANA tree. I was a little ticked off. The darn thing even had the nerve to position itself in between the fence and the neighbor’s unfinished garage in clear sight for me to see, but not them.
Upon close inspection I noticed one of my red banana trees had come up. After four years. This was the one given to me by a dear neighbor who had left the area after Hurricane Katrina and sold her home.
I had already planted new banana trees given to me by my neighbor Anita.
I walked around the corner and helped Anita dig up about four red banana trees. I placed these trees in the same spot my other ones had grown.
Post note:
I just located these old pictures and this lovely story I wrote many years ago. I updated it a little as I remembered. I added the story about my mother and I. I thought I had lost these photos with the storm. By chance I had them stored in an old computer.
My yard was like a part of my soul. It was my refuge.
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