DIY: Make a Wish Tree

One of my favorite things about living in the Western Addition was spring time, when the cherry blossom trees would burst into flowers – not just because it’s a spectacular sight but also because someone in the neighborhood would decorate the trees with stuffed animals. Alligators laying across low-lying branches, blue and green bears, a stegosaurus and Strawberry Shortcake made an appearance every spring, mysteriously disappearing during the wet, winter months and back again as soon as the trees were ready to burst into bloom. I always thought it was neat, a little neighborhood quirk, an insider’s secret treat.

my friend found this lovely at Masonic and Haight

But when you think about it, placing objects in trees is a long standing tradition. Besides the obvious example (Christmas Trees) there are Wish Trees in Hong Kong, Argentina, and Glasgow,Yoko Ono did an exhibit of one at the MOMA. And they make super classy gifts for special occasions like weddings, anniversaries, housewarmings or new babies.
So, here’s what it looks like:


Grab yourself some ribbons, scraps of paper, pens and a hole punch and make it a party. Add anything that strikes you: coins, bells, paper flowers, action figures. Then write out some wishes and tie ’em into the tree. Now, this works best if you have a tree in a pot or a backyard. If you’re working with shared space, clear it with everyone first and if you’re working in public space, well, I don’t know about it. So, choose wisely and don’t eff it up for everyone, yeah? Go make a wish.