They cut a stately aged tree down in our neighborhood today. What had taken over 80 years to mature, took less than 4 hours reduce to wood chips. The stump remains and I can’t help wondering what the roots are experiencing below the sawdust remains. Great shock, I’m sure. Everyone agreed it was time. The tree had some serious old sections that didn't bend and sway in heavy winds, but broke and shattered. The tree’s health would be seriously compromised with heavy pruning so it essentially became a case of tree euthanasia. No anesthetic, just deep cuts. I hope it didn't hurt too much.
The tree had been home to several families over the years.
The squirrel nest was still tucked in the uppermost branches that used to
scratch the underbelly of clouds. In what seemed slow motion, the branches fell
over 50 feet to kiss the earth—earth they had never touched in life. I don’t think they served any eviction
notices to the squirrels though calling card of cherry picker and chain saw was
probably warning enough.
It’s always sad to see a tree cut down. The only solace
knowing it wasn’t cut down in its prime.
30 comments:
I love this! Just beautiful, my friend. It made me remember how sad we felt when Hurricane Wilma came and so many old trees were destroyed. Sad and sweet.
You made me feel each sawcut, and I've sawn on many a tree over the years and never even thought about it. That middle picture of the branches of starlings laced across the sky is just amazing. It's hard to watch so much volume of nature reduced to sawdust in such a short time, but you know that tree has spent its life making other trees, some of whom are even now growing tall.
Oh, it is truly sad when a tree is cut down!
Sad that this old one had to be cut down!
Our neighbor had a very old tree that was cut down this past spring.
It was diseased but I was so sad to watch that tree being taken down!
Beautifully written!
sad...i hate to see trees cut down esp those that have been there and a part of the community...we had a large on in my parents yard get struck down and it was well over 100 years old...
That tree has seen a lot in its years. So sad to see them go when they have to. A lovely tribute.
Very sad. Our town lost a hundred year old oak this year, for many of the same problems. It is like losing a friend.
Oh my we have a tree down in our field right now. Ron managed to take it down with his tractor and pushed it near the neighbor's so they can cut it up for fire wood. The tree was dead and dangerous to leave unattended and now it will warm a needy family that has to limit their propane use. We are never happy to have to remove a tree unless it is absolutely necessary.
Trees are particularly soulful things, I think, and I love to watch them grow, and hurt when they are damaged or destroyed.
childhood memories always include a great climbing tree, and that tree will be talked about for years
So sad. I lost several big trees in storms this year, and I just hate to see them go down.
Hopefully another will fill its place & be able to live a long and happy life as well. But it is sad to see a tree go. Lovely shots as usual Talon
A friend pointed out this site to me and am I ever glad. You capture the essence of a tree beautifully with your words & pictures. I suspect that it was probably diseased though, if branches were falling off so easily. If left longer, only more damage would occur.
It IS sad to see a tree cut down. Years and years of growing gone in minutes. Especially sad when it's a close friend of the family who sheltered picnics and shaded readers and kids playing. Nice tribute. Wonder where the squirrel went?
Your last pic is so Hitchcockesque!
hehehehe...
I always cry when familiar trees get cut. Poor Starling was prob born there- so mean we decide to take from them. But often Mother Nature decides to take them at random, suddenly by storm, or slowly with disease n parasites. So many gone here just this year. I always think: A hundred Years to grow, just a few minutes to cut down.
Sorry about the tree, n for the critters too. Great pics
I am another who hates to see trees cut down, all those years of growing only to die without dignity.
Yes Talon, I have seen trees
'lopped off' and torn up by the roots by hurricanes (Andrew) and now, here in North Carolina the ice storm two Christmas's ago tore the trees down and caused many to topple; it ain't pretty to watch. I am amazed at the resiliency of the trees here, with their tops lopped off, to carry on! Now they are harder to topple.
By the way, the barn photo in the header is well- glorious! I love it and the color!!
It's always sad to say goodbuy to a tree! My friend visited an Indian reservation when she was in Conneticut and she came back and told me that when they have to cut down a tree they walk into the forest, point at a tree and say 'This is the one that we're going to cut down'...this then sends the other trees into shock and then they cut down the one that they were going to in the first place. It was done so that the tree being cut didn't feel anything.
That story has always stuck with me.
C x
Ps. Love the pic at the top here!! It's fab!
I hate to see trees cut down, blown down or destroyed by ice & snow. It is less sad to know, though, that it lived a full life and will now return to the earth from which it sprang.
You describe this sad act in a beautiful way. It is a great tribute to the old tree.
I'm always upset when I see that a tree is cut down :(
I have written several times about trees coming down or the life of a tree...Our 100 year old apple tree still stands strong, but the apples are getting funky and too costly to spray with earth friendly spray...
so many years...the cycle of life...I enjoyed the pictures and the story you created in the telling
Excellent entry and awesome pictures. A great pity when a tree has to be cut due to some problems, sometimes if some part is left behind, they do regrow - a branch appearing with young leaves.
Paso por su espacio donde encuentro fotos magnÃficas y cosas interesantes...
Reciba un cordial saludo,
Db.
Yep. From the trees perspective i guess it was a drag but from the human it was a necessity and from the birds, well there might be a nicer place in the 'burbs they can fly too,
accorn
as the old limbs fall
this sprig
__I "fashion" walking sticks, I don't "make" them, they are already "made" when I find them... dead-falls that, I simply enhance.
__The grain, the patterns, the flaws, worm holes, and the knots, nothing surpasses the art of nature; just ask that lone starling and the joining flock.
__Wonderfully posed feeling, K.
_m
I get that it had to be done, but still!! :(.
ayala, thank you so much. It must be so much more devestating to see healthy trees ripped apart like that!
hedgewitch, you are so right - from the death there is birth. And I've always felt for trees - even when I have to prune them, I sort of wince --but I'm crazy like that :)
Margie, so lovely to see you! Yes, it's hard even when it's necessary. It really changes the landscape, too, doesn't it!
Brian, it's hard to watch them go whether old or not, isn't it?
Lynn, thank you! And yes, that tree probably had some great stories to share. I imagine all the people it's seen come and go from that property...
Sandy - that's it exactly! It is like losing a friend. That particular tree was one I often captured moonshots through the branches. I'll miss it.
Annie, I like that your tree will be used as fuel. That's nature's recycling at its very best.
Shay, I'm like you :)
Christine, yes, they become a huge part of our lives, don't they? We have a shared history with a lot of trees.
Teresa, it's heartbreaking when the storms down them. I can totally understand your sadness in losing them.
Katherine, thank you. Yes, I'm hoping these homeowners replace it with something. It would be nice to watch a sapling grow up. :)
clctreeservices, you're right - it was the right thing to do. It just leaves a huge vacant spot there that takes some adjusting to. Better to be safe than sorry. In a bad storm it could have caused serious damage.
Leenie, I'm thinking that squirrel has hooked up with one of his numerous cousins who live in the black walnuts around the house here. :) Yes, there is that connection to trees and all they give us. It seemed a bit of an ignoble demise, but I guess there's no gracious way to cut one down, is there?
Thought you'd appreciate that shot, Galen! :)
Snaggle, thanks. Yes, it makes me really sad, too, whether it's natural causes or man-made whims. It does seem incredible that something that took decades to prosper could be reduced to sawdust so quickly. I thought the same thing - the starlings had a history with that tree.
Marilyn, that's how it feels exactly - no dignity at all. Just cut, cut, cut...
lg, I remember when you had all those limbs down in that storm last year. You're right though - they are resilient and thank heavens for that. I hope the lost tree is replaced with another. That barn's lower wall (the upper was a dull grey) just sang to me on a country drive. I'm a barn freak :)
Carol, wow - that's so neat. I'll remember that. To have such compassion for all living things...that is truly honorable, isn't it? Thank you for sharing that! And thanks - barns always speak to me :)
Linda, it's hard. It looks so naked across the way there without those huge branches. But you're right - everything has a life span and it was time.
Frieda, me too! And thank you!
Patricia, I remember your writings of trees. And I remember your 100 year old apple tree (which is simply amazing!) Thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed my tree tale.
Ravenblack, welcome and thank you! Yes, it is a true pity.
David, welcome and thank you so much. I love your photos - they are amazing!
Walking Man, I bet the birds have already flown to finer spaces :)
magyar, yes, there is that - life will come from the death. Oh, that's awesome about the walking sticks. My father used to have a couple. They were so neat. And you're right - they are made, but it takes a true artisan to respect what nature artistically fashioned and I bet you are definitley one of those, D!
deb, exactly how I felt! Thank you. hope all is well for you and your family.
It is so sad to see a tree die, then have to be cut down like this. Must make such a change in the neighborhood.
I think maybe the roots are sleeping now anyway, so have drifted off to heaven. I hope, anyway.
It was so neat to see in Galveston that scluptors had carved interesting characters and animals into the live oak stumps left from Ike.
xoxo
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