Yet another? Yes, as today a contractor will be cutting down our enormous old elm (150+ inches around the trunk, well over a hundred feet high). The money we need to spend on this, especially in light of all our other current expenses, hurts. But all the stresses related to the money & so on has not, until today, given me enough time to reflect on the hurt of seeing a beautiful, magestic living thing (far older than me) have to go in this fashion.
We assume that it was after last fall's storms that took off some huge branches that the Dutch Elm beetles got in the open wounds. This summer, our tree has quickly succumbed to the disease, going from a lush green canopy of more leaves than there are people in the state of Minnesota to a state of absolute defoliation. Walking back by the tree this morning on my way to the car I was, completely without warning, overcome with the realization I was walking away from this gentle giant for the very last time. A tree that was there prior to the first house going up in my neighborhood, and whose crown afforded birds views of a score of miles or more in any direction, would not be there when I return home. I just had to stand there, craning my neck up to try and catch final glimpses of its upper reaches. It's immense, quiet nobility was evident even as it stood there a dying shadow of its glory from only a year ago. I cried. I patted it and said "goodbye."
As a verifiable animal lovers and bona-fide tree huggers, it's incredible-almost utter lunacy-what our family has had to bear over the past year. Think about it. Top half of Silver Maple: cracked & gone. Kuna-i: dead. Saraki: cancer, leg removed. Now, Elm: dead.
Cripes, the humans in the Hylton household better start holding each other tight.
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4 comments:
Very sad.
Again.
It did live a good long life, though probably not by elm standards, prior to the blight.
I am sorry to see the tree go. I know sometimes they have to go, but it is so very sad. The homes, clean air, filtered run-off, the history, the shade, the living being itself and all associated vibes and feelings. So much time and patience. So much energy.
It takes so so long for a tree like that to attain such size.
Would you consider planting another tree in its place?
We have them digging down 8 inches so we can fill w/dirt and do some plantings, but I don't know about the other tree. How could a new tree get in there with that existing root structure in the way?
It might use it. The nutrients and root routs all nicely laid out, might make it easier for a tree to get established there. That spot has been drawing on the world for a century - try a locust.
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