Another one gone

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Who is cutting down my tree?

Who is cutting down my tree?

We had to put one of our wonderful trees down. It had developed a fungal disease that required multiple sprayings with chemicals. I am not opposed to a squirt or two but to spray a whole tree would contaminate too much stuff…like my pond.

The tree had a beautiful canopy that shaded a part of the patio. Although we have other shade trees nearby, the patio will be in full sun for most of the afternoon. Bummer!

The birds aren’t happy either. It was a great landing place before swinging over to the Café Kate for some seeds. After that, they could have a little brewski in the bird bath to wash it down. Then a little skinny-dip in the pond and they were good.

In taking it down, I almost stepped on a frog that was checking out the action. He looked disapproving. Just how is this going to affect his pond was what he was thinking.

This is what the new tree will look like in a few years.

This is what the new tree will look like in a few years.

A new tree is coming next week. We got a very large one that is already 15’ with a good canopy. As I told the person at the tree farm, I’m getting old. I don’t have time to wait around for a tree to grow. I may be in a nursing home with a diaper or in the ground by the time a small one is big enough to shade anything.

It’s an adjustment for all of us, people and critters. There is sadness about it because the tree wasn’t old.

Courtesy of lazer29 from birds and blooms

Courtesy of lazer29 from birds and blooms

A guy I used to work with fed hummingbirds. He became attached to them which was unusual because he wasn’t a pet kind of guy.

One day he brought a dead hummingbird in to see if anyone knew why it had died. It certainly was a conversation starter.

He would whip it out of his pocket (wrapped in a paper towel) and say, “Do you know why this bird died?”

I don’t think he found out. No one was willing to do an autopsy. Another mystery of life.

28 thoughts on “Another one gone”

  1. I’m so sorry about the tree, and the bird. You have to wonder how nature feels when something so central to their existence is taken away. Bill Hicks always told me trees had faces if you looked at them long enough. He changed my awareness concerning them. Again, I’m sorry. I know how much you love your pond and all its critters.

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    • Trees are special. They grow so slowly. Planting them in the right spot is important so you don’t end up taking them down when they are grown. I loved the old one but it had already lost half it leaves.

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    • Yes, it was a stop and landing for the bird feeders. The chipmunks lost some of their hiding spots too. Our yard is very shady so they will adjust probably better than I will.

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  4. Oh Kate I so understand how you feel about your tree. We love our trees on The Tiny Ten and have been taking them down in big numbers due to the drought the last 5 or 6 years. More will come down this Fall. Such a great idea to get a big 15 foot tree. We always have young trees coming up but not where we want them.. over the porch or the wine time sittin’ place.

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    • We cut down 3 this year. Two douglas firs and this one. We replaced the one fir but the other doesn’t need a replacement. Both of those trees were sad but weren’t near the house. You are right about this one being by the sittin’ place.

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  5. I was just reading a story about a huge Katsura tree at the George School in Bucks Co. It was over 100 years old and served as a symbol for the school. It also developed a fungus and had to be cut down. All the wood will go to the wood shop on campus to be created into all sorts of artwork over the years so the tree can continue to grace the campus. Like you, they also purchased an older tree to fill the void.
    It sounds like your new edition is already loved, so no doubt it will thrive in your care!

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    • We will probably name it and coax it to grow fast. This tree was put in 11 years ago so it wasn’t as old or grand as that one but it had grown fast and was a great shade tree.

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    • It’s even sadder this morning. I had to cut all the ground junipers too so the chipmunks are scrambling for hiding places. However, they are still getting their share of the sunflower seeds.

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  8. I can understand the frog’s disapproving look. We all hate change, especially when it involves a nice shady tree.

    Kate, we went thru this with two palm trees in our front yard. Some type of fungal infection and it would have spread to other palms in the neighborhood if we had not cut them down. It’s a bummer. We never had the shade you had or will have with your new tree. But it is a loss.

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    • I love trees. I grew up in a large yard that was completely shaded and it was wonderful. It’s 10 degrees cooler under the trees. People don’t plant shade trees anymore and I don’t know why.

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  9. I’m guessing you need to buy a few patio umbrellas . . . or an awning . . . to give you some shade until the new tree fills out.

    The circle of life sucks sometimes.

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    • We have a screened in porch which is where we spend most of our time but I also like to have a tree near enough to the house to give some dappled shade. The circle of life does indeed suck.

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  10. So hard to lose a big shade tree. It’s like losing an old friend. I know. And the loss is felt in so many ways by so many. I’m glad you have a new tree coming though and I hope it will thrive.

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  11. Oh, I hate to hear that about the hummingbird, Kate, they’re my favorite bird. I’d be curious to know where your coworker found the bird. Once we had a dead hummingbird in our garage. We assumed he had been attracted to the red cord that releases the door if the power goes out and then flew towards the windows trying to get out. We think he exhausted his little heart.
    Sorry to hear about your tree, but I’m glad you didn’t squash the frog. 🙂

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    • He found the bird on his deck. It could have flown into the house but the neck wasn’t real distorted. That’s what was confusing. There were no trauma signs like from a cat or other predator. Maybe old age….

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  12. No doubt the area residents will be cheered by the arrival of a new tree. That would have been a lot of spraying of a whole tree – with no guarantees. I know what you mean about not wanting to wait. Shade on the patio is important. Hope you post some pictures of the tree planting. (Maybe a temporary umbrella or awning for the pond? Will algae grow faster in sun – or do the frogs and fish take care of that?)

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    • The algae will grow faster. I have plants in but it’s only covered about 50%. “They say” it should be covered about 80% to keep the algae from going crazy. Hopefully the fish will help it.

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  13. Sad about the tree…at first I tho’t you had were going to write about losing a human friend. That would be because one of my best, long time friends has just this hour passed on. Friends and trees have special places in our lives…very precious. My parents had a gorgeous, huge weeping willow tree that was a landmark to the neighborhood and when they lost it; a tragedy indeed. I can hardly bear to lose a tree; they take a long time to spread their presence and endear themselves to those who care for them…and it’s almost like losing part of one’s self. Hurry and plant another…can’t take its place but will help fill the void. Love the hummer!

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