A Tree Falls; I Hear It

It is with a pure and enduring sadness that I announce that the tree on the side of our house, known affectionately around here as "that tree on the side our house," has officially expired. Our tree guy was here today (and yes, we have a tree guy, you wanna make something of it? HUH?!?), and told me that the tree was deader than Marley's ghost (though he didn't use that particular allusion, he just said, "you know that tree on the side of your house is dead, right?"). And then we stood there, silently, holding back the tears for a good two, three seconds. And then he slipped me his bill. It was an emotional moment for everyone.

But honestly, the tree never had much of a chance. It was planted there by the previous owner of the house, who apparently thought that it was a great idea to plant a tree on the windward side of a house, where the winds are often 30 mph or more and there is not other tree within a hundred yards to break the wind (so to speak) before it hit this one. The poor tree was constantly yanked back and forth by the wind. We would go out there and repack the dirt at the roots and added a supporting strut. But it never helped. And now it's dead.

What to do now? I imagine we'll have a bonfire in its memory. Maybe we'll plant a tree in its honor. However, probably not in that spot.

Written by johnmscalzi Blog about this entry

This entry has 12 comments: (Add your own)

#12 Comment from jrmrlbr
5/31/05 9:39 PM | Permalink

I am sorry to hear about your tree. It is too bad that the tree is dead and you had to get it cut down but planting another one in it's memory will help you to deal with the grief of losing the tree. Hope all is well. Take Care- Julie
#11 Comment from belfastcowboy75
5/15/05 9:49 AM | Permalink

Hey, Mon...doan be takin' our Rastafarian brutha's name to be talkin' 'bout no dead tree. If Ziggy an' Rohan be seein' this, they be sendin' some bad joojoo your way. That tree mon, he be breakin' more than wind.
#10 Comment from simplytinaok
5/12/05 10:36 PM | Permalink

My Deepest Sympathy's John!
I am quite the TREE ENTHUSIAST!! I planted a Cotton Wood four years ago, in memory of one of my beloved Boston Terries..we named the tree after him...Spike..I know, I know...it sounds a bit overboard, but that's me....anyway, this Tree Took off like a WEED and it grew from a Gallon Size - 2 inch trunck to a 20 foot tree in Four years...it was SO BEAUTIFULL...then Last Fall it started looking Sickly to say the least..so I consulted a nursery and they told me that Cotton Woods get some kind of Root Rot very easily...they also told me that they do not grow well in our Area..(then why do they sell them down here?? :-\ I asked myself). Anyway, This spring I waited and waited to see if any buds would appear and No, not one bud...I took my knife and dug it into Spikes Fat Trunk and it was wet and soggy and stringy...he was DEAD! I have not had the stomache to cut him down and my husband is harping on me to let him do it....the tree looks fine as far as shape and height....just no leaves....but I guess I will have to give in and have him cut Spike Down...One of these days....just not this week or next week....or the week after that....... :o(
Take care....
Tina
http://journals.aol.com/simplytinaok/SELFINJURYOBSESSION/
http://journals.aol.com/simplytinaok/WaitPushThePauseButton/
#9 Comment from xzasporated1
5/12/05 7:27 PM | Permalink

Ah. My sympathy. On the bill.

Looked like a nice tree too. Probably didn't hurt anybody. Didn't deserve this.

~~ jennifer
#8 Comment from slacbacmac
5/12/05 5:06 PM | Permalink

Agreement>>> it must pain you much to pay for the
removal instead of using your own saw=chain And
bringing the branches to my Parish for Recycling...
NOW~think hard before planting anew! i do not want
to read this entry again in Ten Years time. Truth

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A Tree Falls; I Hear It