For three days, the branches were cut, the sawing was incessant. Finally, all that was left was the stump, which was pulled and ground into the woodchippers, too.
The tree had been in front of the house on Radcliffe Street, since we had moved here in 1994. The tree had probably been here long before that. It had never been trimmed.
It was with sadness as I watched the big, beautiful branches taken down. I’m sure the neighbors had to deal with roots and leaves and the early morning shade, but the death of anything is sad.
I thought of Joyce Kilmer’s poem “Trees” and felt despondent.
I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast;
A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in Summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.
Even as more and more people build lot line to lot line, I wonder if they realize their health and the health of the Earth depends on plants and trees.
Amen. A beautiful tribute Sue.
What makes north of Montana neighborhood, Brentwood Park, Riviera and rustic canyon so special are the trees.
“Even as more and more people build lot line to lot line, I wonder if they realize their health and the health of the Earth depends on plants and trees.”
As a community lets water our trees, just a gallon a month, to compensate for what climate change has wrought.
Trees are lovely and they do provide oxygen to our local air. Grass adds even more oxygen to our air. With the drought, we have to think about our air quality needs.
It will be a tough problem this summer.
Such a loss. Trees should not be trimmed or cut down when birds are nesting. Crazy! The National Audubon Society recommends that trees in our area only be trimmed from November through January, due to the nesting needs of birds in our area. It’s not rocket science. It could be law.
Perhaps (probably?) making way for another lot line to lot line, no-character-white-box (house)?