Early this morning I heard loud buzzing noises and, looking out a window,
saw our cul-de-sac crowded with trucks, and workers lopping big limbs off an old oak tree.
"The lofty oak from a small acorn grows."
Lewis Duncombe, De Minimus Maxima
Lewis Duncombe, De Minimus Maxima
In this picture, the tree is right across the cul-de-sac from our mailbox,
which is at the end of our drive.
It's the biggest tree in the shot, right in the middle.
That the tree was coming down surprised me.
This oak tree belongs partly to us;
it straddles our property line with our neighbors'.
Half theirs. Half ours.
"Solitary trees, if they grow at all, grow strong."
- Winston Churchill
- Winston Churchill
We didn't know they had contracted to have the tree removed.
 |
| It's the big tree on the left. |
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The neighbor behind me knocked on my door to make sure I had seen what was happening,
and he and I walked over to talk with the workmen.
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| There it is, right smack in the middle of this picture, taken from our dining room. |
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As I understand it, the neighbors originally wanted the limbs cut that hung
over their house, which is completely understandable.
But the tree surgeon told them the tree was dying and should be removed.
"Of all man's works of art, a cathedral is greatest.
A vast and majestic tree is greater than that."
Henry Ward Beecher
I am trying to get an arborist to give an unbiased opinion about the tree, as I would like to save it.
However, I also don't want to enter into a war with my neighbors.
Work on it has stopped for the time being.
I wish I were wiser. What would Solomon do?
There's a moral to this story somewhere, and it has to do with communication.
"Then here's to the oak, the brave old oak, Who stands in his pride alone! And still flourish he a hale green tree When a hundred years are gone!" - H. F. Chorley. 1831-1872. |
I had something else planned for today, with links to all the wonderful Friday link parties, but this has just taken up too much time; I'm waiting a call back from another arborist.
Poor old tree. It's been here longer than anyone's memory, and it is such a beauty.
I hope we can save it and stay on good terms with our neighbors. Wish us luck! -- Cass
Posts
Oh my! I do wish you good luck dealing with that situation.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your weekend.
Hi cass, for some reason it (google) will not accept my new email address.
ReplyDeleteCarol
Designs for you
I hate really hate seeing an old tree being cut down. Too bad they can't tell us if its really time ( (I guess in a way they can) Oh the stories they have to tell. Take care my friend.
It is a gorgeous tree.
ReplyDeleteDoes it have that oak blight thing???
We lost one tree in our back yard to that this past summer, and the other two are dying fast.
Keetha -- no blight that I can see. The leaves are good, and the limbs that were sawn off today look healthy inside. Beautiful wood.
ReplyDeleteIt did lose its leaves earlier than usual this season, but all the big oaks in the neighborhood did, and lots of other trees as well. Color wasn't good this year, and the leaves gave up early.
Sorry about your oak blight!
Cass
I hope it can be saved, it is a beauty. I HATE hurting any living plant ... best of luck that you are able to save it. The neighbors I wouldn't worry about, they didn't worry about you in making this decision, Cass.
ReplyDeleteHave a beautiful weekend ~
TTFN ~
Hugs,
Marydon
Ooohhhhh I am feeling steam coming out of my ears! How dare they cut down that tree without consulting you! It's an incredibly beautiful tree! A statement tree...One that should be saved if possible (And I pray it is) I had neighbors who couldn't understand why I could possibly want blackberry vines in my backyard so they cut them all down....On my property! Without asking me! It took me 7 years to get enough blackberries from those vines to make a pie...It also worked well as a barrier from my pesky neighbors, and they cut them all down....Neighborcide (yes I made that one up *winks*) almost occured.Lol! Vanna
ReplyDeleteCass -- how could they do that -- would they then "bill" you for half of the cost of taking it down? Without talking to you? I do hope ;the tree isn't "dying" but I'm not sure the "tree surgeon" who is making money off the deal is telling the truth -- if it were I, I would get bigger bucks by taking the whole thing down . . . . and who would know whether it was "ill" or not?
ReplyDeleteGlad you're calling in a third party.
Our trees lots their leaves early too because of the drought, they were getting rid of the "dead weight" and keeping only what they needed to survive. That wouldn't be your problem -- drought, I mean -- but it could be too much water -- get rid of the waterlogged ones!
Martha
It's so sad to see a beautiful tree loose it's life. When we purchased our home many year ago we had to have 4 trees cut down. The one I miss the most is the large oak. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteAn oak that large has been around for a looong time. It deserves all the respect it can get and that includes protection from premature death by tree surgeon!! Keep working on finding an arborist who can tell if the tree is really dying or if your neighbors are jumping the gun cause they're tired of raking leaves or something!
ReplyDeleteI hope you can save it -as for the relationship with the neighbours, well that will depend on them. We have a difficult relationship with our closes neighbours because of a rooster - such a shame.
ReplyDeleteI love big old trees..I wish you the best with your neighbors..and think you made the right choice in calling for a second opinion. We have had tree guys in the past that have told us our trees were diseased when they were not. Safety is the main concern..so if the tree is deemed safe I would think no one would want it removed not even your neighbors! Hoping for the best!
ReplyDeleteMiss Bloomers
Cass, I'm so glad you were able to have the carnage stopped in time to have a second opinion brought in. I agree with Martha, hard to say if the tree is really dying or they're just looking to make a lot of money. I'm so surprised your neighbors would want that gorgeous tree removed; I was so awestruck by the silhouette it reveals through all the seasons. I have a special place in my heart for oak trees, I think they are the true aristocrats of the tree world. I hope this can be resolved with no hard feelings on either side. To think how much history that tree has seen, how many storms it has withstood, good for you for being it's Protector!
ReplyDeleteWhat a conundrum. Solomon would have said cut it half. You can't very well do that to a baby or an oak tree, so I don't know the answer. But I feel your pain over the loss. My neighbor keeps chopping down my crepe myrtle because he said "he couldn't see what was going on over here." You probably have more reasonable neighbors.
ReplyDeleteOh my, Cass! That's a tricky situation! Hope you can save the tree and the relationship! Hope you are having a great weekend!...hugs...Debbie
ReplyDeleteI sure hope you can save it. Old trees like that oak are rare beauties.
ReplyDeletexo
Claudia
We had a similiar situation with a neighbor. An agreement was reached, peacefully. I wish you well in your ordeal.
ReplyDeleteI agree that you should get a second opinion. As for staying on good terms with the neighbors. Remember that they were not nice enough to talk with you before proceeding with cutting down the tree!! Being neighborly works both ways!
ReplyDeleteNancy