Feeling more than a little unsettled, on Wednesday, I was in need of distraction. Earlier, I had noticed something down in the field below the house.
Something skeleton-like.
Probably the skeletal remains of a deer we found weeks ago.
It had provided a good feed to passing wild animals and periodically bits of bone get dragged back out.
There was no real reason for me to check, but I decided a short walk might improve my mind set.
Down in the field perspective is quite different.
Especially now the leaves are down.
The white-barked trees are somewhat skeletal too.
Our neighbor says these are poplar trees, so I shall not call them ghosts in future.
They are very lovely.
Milkweed continues to offer up its seeds to the wind.
The silky floss is so pretty as it shimmers in sunlight.
This I believe may be dried up ragweed (golden rod).
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
It deserved a photograph, I thought.
Then there was this.
Dried up flea-bane perhaps?
What I was really interested in checking out were the young pines that are dotted around in the field.
With most of the invasive weeds and vines removed, these pines now have a chance to grow and develop into healthy trees.
There has been quite a growth spurt.
The tallest is not quite 6 foot.
The transplanted maple, just before the hedge, centre left, is also thriving. We moved it from in front of the house where the ground beneath a thin layer of soil, is solid slate.
My tree needed better.
Until I owned a garden, I had never had a relationship with a tree although I fully subscribed to the notion of hugging them.
My first garden, in Washington State, was mostly shaded by a big old maple.
It was a wonderful tree that housed untold numbers of creatures.
Father’s Day morning 2011, a loud thud woke me and I though some fool had failed to stop at the end of the road and caused an accident.
But there were no sirens or alarmed voices, so I went downstairs and looked outside.
My heart sank.
A huge branch of the maple had fallen taking out my fence and the power lines, and blocking access to the road.
Father’s Day.
Oh.
However did I find a tree service on that particular Sunday?
Neighbors were trying to organize Father’s Day festivities and my tree had cut off their electricity, never mind the road.
But what pained me was that the rest of the tree had to come down.
Soon I was left with the largest tree stump in the Puget Sound area.
That was when I learned I could cry over a tree.
Every time I approached the house in the ensuing days, I got a lump in my throat.
Inevitably, the garden changed completely with the maple gone.
Forget-me-nots and ferns flourished beneath the cat suite window and there were many other changes.
As sad as I was to have lost the tree, the following February I had reason to be thankful when we were beset with an awful ice-storm.
All night I listened to the creaking of branches above the roof but we remained safe as the other trees were much less a threat.
It’s always sad to lose a tree but miraculous what the extra light can produce from the ground.
Quite a few things grew very successfully after but when I sold the house the buyers did a complete re-make and stripped everything, including the beautiful trees:(
I hate when people do that. They should always wait a full season to see what is there already.
We have two large Oak trees. One in our back garden, and one at the front in the driveway. They are ‘Listed Trees’, which means the local council can dictate what we do with them. Cutting them down is not allowed, not that I would ever do that. The back tree is estimated to be 290 years old, the front one around 210 years old. Despite the fact they shower the house and garden with acorns and leaves, and cost almost £1800 every five years to have them trimmed in accordance with regulations, I love them both.
Best wishes, Pete.
Thank you, Carolyn, for the moving story. of the fallen tree. I cry too, once when a a huge tree in my garden was uprooted by foxes, and the second time when my the old woman living next door cut down a beautiful chestnut tree. It was such an act of vandalism!
Joanna
Oh, what a lovely walk! The things one see when you walk even just a few steps from home – I love the growing pine trees. I learned to love trees when we started to hike many years ago – there is just something so peaceful to sit with your back against a tree and to rest in its shade.