The electric guys came around last year — I mean the guys who work for the electricity company, not some very exciting science-fiction superheroes — and cut down trees and tree branches that threatened the wires. This is a good thing, because we don’t want to go without heat for nine days again this winter.
The bad thing is, of course, the loss of trees. Just because we live back in the woods doesn’t mean we lose trees lightly.
The one we really hated to see go was a huge maple across the drive from Mom’s house. When #4 Daughter was wee, she called it The Wishing Tree, and it always had a sort of grand character about it. But it was dying, and it was big enough to do major damage if it fell onto Mom’s roof.
So now it’s gone. Charlie, Mom, friends, and the daughters have bought and planted and transplanted all manner of flowers around the stump: phlox, hydrangeas, chrysanthemums, bee balm, butterfly bush, sedum, zebra grass, pampas grass, and more.
In the spring, I’ll take a picture of The Family Garden. Right now, with the garden dying back and the autumn coming on strong, I’m thinking of the tree that is no more and missing it.
A WRITING PROMPT FOR YOU: A tree is removed. What does it change?
MA
Jane
September 27, 2012 at 10:05amHi. I really hated losing my giant elm tree over on Coral Avenue. It was so grand, and it left such a huge empty space. It was really something to sit out on the porch ad watch the young squirrel families chase each other all over its huge, spreading branches. So sad. When it died and was cut down, the monster sections were littered all over the yard, leaning on each other and absolutely filling the whole place up, as if some giant had left his toys out.
Marian Allen
September 27, 2012 at 10:37amJane — PUBLISH YOUR BOOK! I love how you see things, and all the parts of things, and what they mean and how they connect to everything else!
Jane
September 28, 2012 at 12:14pmOMG! Thank you so much!
Red Tash
September 27, 2012 at 2:33pmSorry about the loss of the Wishing Tree. 🙁
Marian Allen
September 27, 2012 at 10:02pmThanks, Red. I miss it every day. But it was at least half dead. I couldn’t argue to keep it. 🙁
Perry Block
September 28, 2012 at 12:31amWhat does it change?
My bank account to the tune of whatever it cost me to have it removed!
Marian Allen
September 28, 2012 at 9:20amCost? Cost? Haven’t you ever heard of making a sign that says, “Cut your own firewood — $25 a rick”?