October 9, 2014
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A Tree is Nice
"Trees are beautiful. They fill up the sky. If you have a tree, you can climb up its trunk, roll in its leaves, or hang a swing from one of its limbs. Cows and babies can nap in the shade of a tree. Birds can make nests in the branches. A tree is good to have around. A tree is nice." From the children's book, A Tree is Nice by Janice May Udry
My mom had this book in her collect after retiring from teaching. She passed it on to me for my children and we loved it. Growing up, mom had a way of working trees into the conversation as I played among so many in my childhood. We had a family cabin surrounded with pines, and mom knew all their names. She'd sketch them and get to know more about them as she noted the sometimes subtle differences as she'd draw.
"Now see how the pine cones of the Sugar Pine look so different compared to the Ponderosa Pine?" We'd be walking along and she'd get the conversation moving like it was going to be about trees, then it would change into being about me as she worked the growing up and changes into the tree like comparison of life and living. Gave me a love for trees.
I have a pine tree that has just been removed from my backyard so now all these memories of trees, and my upbringing get to float around at the front of my memory. It's sad, and happy at the same time.
The tree had been diseased by the boring beetle and we sadly watched it die. Last week a few tree like branches came down and landed on electrical wires. Time for the tree to be removed! I knew it was going to leave a empty space where we use to throw out a blanket for the babies to play under it, or nap in a crib, or crawl and explore, or swing from the tire, play dress up under, and so much more. My children didn't know that until it was gone. I listened at the backdoor as they spoke in quiet hushed voices about the loss and how empty the yard was now. The tree had filled it with shade and with that shade, it created a space for our family to SHARE space.
The tree was about 50 years old. It was 45 to 50 feet high and it proudly held a 20 plus year old hawks nest at the top. I heard the hawks lamenting it yesterday. Heart breaking! The neighbor from two houses down come over to tell us how he will miss the shade (we had no idea it reached his yard, hadn't thought about it.) and inquired about the hawks nest. We assured him that we'd asked the tree guys to remove it as safely possible and they cut it out and brought it down with total respect. We've called around and our local natural history museums all want it.
So where do we go from this loss? I encouraged some seedling trees about ten years ago so we'll plant one or two and create a space for more sharing. We'll share our stories about what happened under the tree as we sit by the stump. Maybe make a bird bath in the old tree stump. It's story is not through yet.
A tree IS nice!
(pats heart, and points to the empty space)
Comments (12)
Oh yes, trees are like old friends. We have 2 huge old blue spruce in our front yard that are slowly dying. One of these days they will have to be cut down. I will miss them, but I will plant some more in their space.
Blue Spruce are gorgeous! My heart goes out to you knowing what's to come. Replanting has great energy connected to it so there is a healing there for you.
So sad but some times death does not ask for permission to enter our lives. I'm thinking the new trees will have a big space to fill - and they will I'm sure be up to the challenge. Hugs!
With the drought, it's important to help nature survive. My bathwater goes to the yard now. I'm a partner to the call. :)
How sad to lose your old friendly shade tree! I hope the new ones will be able to take hold in the drought, and will not be overrun by the bark beetles!
Janet, we are so lucky to have this natural experience in our own yard. We will keep nature nurtured and let it unfold. Have a great day, my friend.
This is always heartbroken to remove a tree but it is a necessity when they become sick and frail . A tree can be seeded again or planted again but the problem is for those beautiful nests . The beautiful birds will go away . sad.
Love
Michel
Yes the red-tailed hawks will have to find new nesting. We heard them from another tree, unhappy songs in their songs. There are a few tall cypress trees near by and two in my own front yard. About 50 years old, I'm told, so maybe they'll stay around.
What a beautiful nest, and how huge that tree was Lyn! Losing a tree is one of the hardest things to bear.
I had to cut down an old Birch tree several years ago, (yeah because of a disease too), and I told the guys to slice for me two or three thick circles off the stump; and I decoupage them and gave as gift to a couple of my friends and kept one for myself, and sometimes use it as a center piece on my dining table. I kept bird feeders on the stump of that tree for several years.
Hi Z! If trees could talk...We still come in from the back where it was saying, "I miss the tree." We lost a bit of ourselves as what comes with loss itself. The stories and reflections from the loss are what sends us forward whether we know it or not. Hugs to YOU!
It is indeed sad when a tree dies or is cut down. I feel we need more trees in the world. Love all the pictures, Michel, especially the one with the nest.
Hope all is well! Cheers!
All is flowing along with me smiling in the front of the boat of life. :) I have planted 6 starters with 4 growing strong. Cheers to YOU!