Taking Care of What I've Got

From the Anna K. Tarot, the Queen of Pentacles:

This queen is out collecting apples from her trees, but stops to examine a leaf.  Is that sooty mold?  Is there an infestation of aphids?  While she appreciates the bounty the orchard brings, she knows the value of caring for what you own.  This queen abhors the "throw-away and get a newer version" mindset of many people.  For her, you tend and nurture the blessings you have in order to keep them operating and functioning smoothly, whether it a tree, one's body, or a business.

From the Green Man Tree Oracle comes the "Yew:"

Perseverance holds the key to wisdom.

Yews are magnificent trees that are slow growing and long-lived.  Because there is rarely any wood as old as the entire tree (they hollow with age, making ring counts impossible), it is hard to accurately determine the potential age of a tree.  Yet there are some specimens believed to be 2000 or more years old.  One trait that ensures its old age is that it does not tend to get diseased as it splits under the weight of new growth.  This tree is a reminder that youth doesn't hold all the answers.  Getting through the ups and downs of life year after year brings its own blessings and benefits.