There is no doubt that our connection with trees goes far beyond the physical. Even before recent research found that a vast network of mycorrhizal fungus weaves throughout a forest ecosystem, linking trees, shrubs and grasses in a symbiotic communications network, folklore and myth documented this special relationship.
I have adored trees since childhood. We have a huge try right next to our house that has been here longer than the house has, I swear. It was one of the things that attracted me to our house!
This installment really hits a chord. As the owner of a 100-year-old bungalow in a 1st ring suburban neighborhood in Cincinnati, I share your joys and concerns. A huge selling point for buying this house minutes after we saw it was the five gigantic pin oaks planted in the postage-stamp-sized front yard. They were planted shortly after the house was built (along with the hundreds of others in our neighborhood) and would take at least three adults to join hands around their trunks. They have shaded our under-insulated house in summertime, provided homes for generations of squirrels and 17-year cicadas; launchpads for hawks, owls and turkey vultures; and now at least one is home to a tree disease/fungus that is killing it. We've paid thousands to responsibly prune these trees in the 20 years we've lived here, but now it's time to remove the dying one before it destroys our house, the neighbors' house, our cars, or most terrifying of all - kills someone. Every tornado warning, powerful thunderstorm, ice storm or heavy snow threat brings heart-pounding anxiety - so far, downed limbs have only done "minor" roof damage and smashed understory plantings on our own property. Neighbors' trees have been the cause of winter power outages that, for some, have lasted several days. I hate the idea of "killing" a tree, but it's time. Hopefully, the other four will be healthy for years to come. We love these trees for so many reasons (definitely not for the MONTHS of pin oak leaf-raking that last until February), but when we bought the house we had know idea what kind of financial and emotional toll would go into their care. Anyone who plants a tree near human-inhabited structures should take into full account what that tree will grow into as it reaches maturity (we'll save rants about non-native invasives for another day). And folks who get "sentimental" about all these "wonderful old trees" that are being taken down need to understand some to the tree owner's nightmares. It's because we love them that we do what needs to been done to keep them, and us, healthy and safe.
As a fellow tree lover, I really enjoyed this installation. You write beautifully, Chris. We had tree experts in this autumn as well, and it was a real treat to have our trees both identified and treated. In the recent fierce winds, there was no more slapping of limbs on our steel roof! That boxwood hedge is pretty remarkable. The tales it could tell.
I have adored trees since childhood. We have a huge try right next to our house that has been here longer than the house has, I swear. It was one of the things that attracted me to our house!
This installment really hits a chord. As the owner of a 100-year-old bungalow in a 1st ring suburban neighborhood in Cincinnati, I share your joys and concerns. A huge selling point for buying this house minutes after we saw it was the five gigantic pin oaks planted in the postage-stamp-sized front yard. They were planted shortly after the house was built (along with the hundreds of others in our neighborhood) and would take at least three adults to join hands around their trunks. They have shaded our under-insulated house in summertime, provided homes for generations of squirrels and 17-year cicadas; launchpads for hawks, owls and turkey vultures; and now at least one is home to a tree disease/fungus that is killing it. We've paid thousands to responsibly prune these trees in the 20 years we've lived here, but now it's time to remove the dying one before it destroys our house, the neighbors' house, our cars, or most terrifying of all - kills someone. Every tornado warning, powerful thunderstorm, ice storm or heavy snow threat brings heart-pounding anxiety - so far, downed limbs have only done "minor" roof damage and smashed understory plantings on our own property. Neighbors' trees have been the cause of winter power outages that, for some, have lasted several days. I hate the idea of "killing" a tree, but it's time. Hopefully, the other four will be healthy for years to come. We love these trees for so many reasons (definitely not for the MONTHS of pin oak leaf-raking that last until February), but when we bought the house we had know idea what kind of financial and emotional toll would go into their care. Anyone who plants a tree near human-inhabited structures should take into full account what that tree will grow into as it reaches maturity (we'll save rants about non-native invasives for another day). And folks who get "sentimental" about all these "wonderful old trees" that are being taken down need to understand some to the tree owner's nightmares. It's because we love them that we do what needs to been done to keep them, and us, healthy and safe.
As a fellow tree lover, I really enjoyed this installation. You write beautifully, Chris. We had tree experts in this autumn as well, and it was a real treat to have our trees both identified and treated. In the recent fierce winds, there was no more slapping of limbs on our steel roof! That boxwood hedge is pretty remarkable. The tales it could tell.