Lulav

Having sorted out the soft furnishing aspects of the succah,I have just finished fixing up our lulav- a very old folk craft preserved in the Jewish faith,and surrounded by rather Japanese-like instructions,strictures and unobvious concepts of beauty.
Each of the four species has to be just so- I spent a good [and enjoyable] hour yesterday examining piles of lulavim [palm leaves],heaps of hadassim [myrtle]- which miraculously grow rings of three leaves along their whole lengths [a trick completely beyond our courtyard myrtle],buckets of pink-stemmed aravot [willow] and what must have been more than 50 etrogs until I found that special one that talks to you -"Hi- I'm your etrog for this year!" As you can see,this year's is a gesunder,with a great pale-green colour accentuated by darker green dots,a Fuji-like peak,suitably interesting wrinkles and furrows,and a generally self-confident appearance.
Happy Succot! Come sit in our Succah-you're all invited!