3 December: Facts about Cedar Trees

In the French Revolutionary Calendar, today is the Day of the Cedar tree, so here are 10 facts about cedars:

1. They are evergreen trees which belong to the family Pinaceae (subfamily Abietoideae) and the genus Cedrus.
2. There are four species of Cedar: The Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica) found in the Atlas mountains of Morocco and Algeria; Cyprus cedar (Cedrus brevifolia) native to the Troodos Mountains in Cyprus; Himalayan cedar (Cedrus deodara) which grows in the Himalayas; and Lebanon cedar (Cedrus libani) native to Lebanon and Turkey. Cedar is the national emblem of Lebanon and appears in the centre of the Lebanese Flag.
3. A cedar tree can grow to 30–40m in height and have been known, on occasion, to reach 60m. At the other end of the scale, the trees can be trained as bonsai trees and be small enough to keep indoors.
4. They are slow growing trees which don’t flower until they are about 30 years of age. They are Monoecious, which means both the male and female flowers are on the same plant. It’s thought some cedars are more than a thousand years old.
5. They are particularly adapted to mountainous regions where it snows in winter. They were introduced to Britain during the seventeenth century. Due to their size, they’re not often found in the gardens of ordinary folk, but cedar was planted in the grounds of nearly every stately home and mansion.
6. The first cedar planted in the UK was planted in 1646 by Dr. Edward Pocock in his rectory near Wantage, Oxfordshire.
7. The Lebanon Cedar is mentioned 103 times in the Bible. Two examples: "Behold, I will liken you to a cedar in Lebanon, with fair branches and forest shade" (Ezekiel 31:3) and "The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like the cedar in Lebanon" (Psalm 92:12) Cedar was thought to represent purification, protection, incorruptibility and eternal life. Because the trees were so large and durable, they were commonly used to build major buildings like temples. It was a Jewish custom to burn cedar wood to celebrate the New Year.
8. Other used for the wood include chests and linings for drawers – this is because the wood is a natural Moth repellent. This particular use gets a mention in the Iliad when Priam goes to fetch treasure which is kept in a cedar-lined storage room. Cedar wood can also absorb moisture and deodorise, so another use for the wood is to make shoe trees.
9. Cedarwood essential oil was used to make cough medicines, ointments and antiseptic, and in Egypt, was used to embalm the dead.
10. In ancient times, the mountains of Lebanon were covered in thick cedar forests, but over the years, humans cut most of them down, to make temples and shoe trees, and also ships. Some trees still survive, though, particularly on the slopes of Mount Makmel. These trees are known as the Cedars of God and are rigorously protected. They were made a UNESCO Heritage Site in 1998.

Killing Me Softly

Sebastian Garrett is an assassin. It wasn’t his first choice of vocation, but nonetheless, he’s good at it, and can be relied upon to get the job done. He’s on top of his game.

Until he is contracted to kill Princess Helena of Galorvia. She is not just any princess. Sebastian doesn’t bargain on his intended victim being a super-heroine who gives as good as she gets. Only his own genetic variant power saves him from becoming the victim, instead of Helena. 

Fate has another surprise in store. Sebastian was not expecting to fall in love with her.

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