When our house was built, around 1905, it was surrounded by an apple orchard that continued to the north and west. At some point the property was divided up into lots, and the line between our land and our neighbor's was marked by a sugar maple tree.
We bought the house 24 years ago, and one of the countless arborists we hired over the years observed that a root that had grown wrapped around the maple's trunk. It would eventually strangle the tree and kill it, he said, but we couldn't cut the root, because that would kill the tree too.
Sad, because it's such a beautiful tree.
Well, nearly a quarter century later, predictions of the tree's demise turned out to be premature. It was particularly beautiful Sunday morning, with the sun first striking the leaves. I snapped a few photos, then just stood there in the center of the street, admiring the colors.
I appreciated the beautiful colors, spontaneously, then was glad that, despite everything going on, I could appreciate them. A sort of double gladness, soon replaced by pedestrian concerns. But I had it for a moment. Sometimes, a moment is all you get.
Autumn is upon us; enjoy it while it's here. Who knows what life will be like for any of us come winter?
lovely
ReplyDeleteHere in the midwest fall seems artificially enhanced over the last few years. Its just not as cold as soon . Its kinda nice.
ReplyDeleteI imagine come winter we might get some snow. though its been on the dry side this year. We'll also get a new president maybe even from a different party. Its time for a new one what with Joe being so -old.
Looks like a downturn in the economy is on the horizon though all indicators point up. Hopefully mayor Johnson manages to get the snow plowed , though im not confident.
trump will probably win the election what with the racists and misogynists running amok in this country.
But in the end not much will change , our worst fears will likely not come to pass. Like with that maple
Wish I could agree with you about changes and fears. Armed antigovernment thugs are threatening FEMA workers in North Carolina. Chaos and casualties and Joe taking the gloves off...they're all just a shot away.
DeleteOhio has always had gorgeous autumn vistas, thanks to our lush tree canopy. But we are losing more and more of our foliage to age and blight and disease and development. My neighborhood, and my street, are no exceptions. Winter and summer storms have taken out my trees, and those of my neighbors.
At least 25 years ago, Davey Tree, which I'm sure Mr. S remembers, told us that our biggest and oldest tree needed to come down. Predictions of our tree's demise also turned out to be greatly exaggerated, as well as very premature. It hung on, looking more and more bedraggled, and necessitating the lopping off of more and more of its branches, until this summer's drought.
By then, it was already nearly dead, and its branches had become "widow-makers' potential killers that could have easily clocked me as I mowed the back yard, or squashed a passing couple and their dog and stroller. Or the whole tree could have crushed our garage and car.
So down it came, three weeks ago. I gaze out the window from my couch, and it's sofa king sad and shocking to see so much sky. Two big trees gone, in a little over a year. I miss the green and the shade of summer, and the orange, yellow, and red that usually peaked between the last week of October and Veterans Day. A calming and reassuring sight. No matter what else is going on in the world, autumn endures.
Now, all that is gone. Who knows what else will be gone by next summer and fall? Maybe world peace, and domestic tranquility. Maybe democracy. Maybe you. Maybe me.
So, plant another tree. We had three very old oaks that had to come down (one was about 4 feet in diameter -- with 4 inches of solid wood surrounding 3 and a half feet of rot, as it turned out). We'd had volunteer oaks coming up from squirrel's acorns for a while, and chose two of them to relocate to convenient places. One is fully mature and about 30 feet tall, and the other is an adolescent and maybe 20 feet tall.
DeleteJust put something around it so you don't mow or weed-whip it.
We have two stumps now, one in the back yard and one in the front. Both of them are about 30 inches wide. The front stump is now a platform for a "Little Free Library"--a big one--with double doors. A very bad August storm blew it down, and it had to be rebuilt.
DeleteThe back stump supports a washtub full of colorful fall mums. Wanted to preserve the bottom six feet of the trunk, and have a face carved into it, but that would have attracted insects, and led to eventual decay. And a good woodcarver costs even more than tree removal does.
We enjoyed some colorful trees out at Wright Woods in Lake County yesterday. It was pretty crowded. Lake County has hosted Hike Lake County for years now every fall. Hike 7 of 12 trails they pick and get a pull chain or a shield for your walking stick! I have quite the collection on my stick. We greet everyone on the trails, not knowing who they may vote for in a month. Don’t ever think “ nothing bad will happen in our country” because it can; just like a cancer that you don’t think will ever get you.
ReplyDeleteWe just got our 2024 shields yesterday, for hiking eight trails in Summit County (OH) this fall. Summit County is south of Cleveland, and includes the Akron area. Some of the hiking trails are quite hilly and rugged..
DeleteThis was the 25th straight year we've earned our shields. Our walking sticks just ran out of room! And I'm running out of gas. My knees and feet and ankles can't take it anymore, and I get pooped out more easily. At 77, it might be time to hang up the stick.
Don’t quit. Stick it out!
DeleteI might try to get three more shields...and finally hang it up at 80, in 2027. Assuming I'm still breathing. It's called the "Fall Hiking Spree"...and my wife and i have been saying that we're about to "age out" of the annual autumn event. Maybe, and maybe not.
DeleteFantastic photo.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteIn the spirit of enjoying it while it's here, we drove up to the Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve for a change of pace and scenery. I was hoping going north would be beneficial, but that's not far enough north at this juncture, so it was too soon, as I figured it would be. Still, there was enough color to make it worthwhile, both there and driving back and forth, and there are some wonderful views of the lake.
ReplyDeleteWe had dinner at La Casa De Isaac & Moishe in Highland Park. A nice place operated by guys from Mexico who are Jewish. It was pretty good and the staff was very prompt and friendly, though I'm not nearly as savvy a reviewer as our host. Have you heard of it / been there, NS? I thought I had seen some article about it in one of the papers very recently, but I can't find one now.
That's a beautiful tree. As I have probably complained about here before, we get a fair amount of color in the city, but it's mostly yellow. I'd love to have an orange maple like that nearby.
I have heard of it, and mean to get up there, but haven't yet.
DeleteSuch a comforting message. Mel Robbins in her recent podcast suggested a new practice of identifying and engaging in that which comforts us as an antidote to consistently being advised to stretch beyond our comfort zone.
ReplyDeleteStill finding something to be grateful for on a daily basis is an aim of my days. Thanks for the photo.
ReplyDeleteDriving into town the other day a thought occurred to me. "I'm as happy as I've ever been." Not something I expected to be true at age 76. I'm reminded of my father's fundamental belief that yes, the world is going to hell, so you might as well appreciate the little joys that come your way.
ReplyDeleteWe had to take down a big white pine and did hire a local chainsaw carver to do a pair of osprey for us. Ten years ago now, and it's cracked a little, but still holding up. Managed to get a photo of the aurora behind it a few nights ago. Here's when it was new. https://flic.kr/p/pjxZht
Putting aside all those political expressions, it has always been my mantra that "October is always there when you need it." I know it might sound corny, but I love the fall as much as I love the spring. Neil, I love your tree photo and am grateful that you can enjoy it as much I enjoy looking out my window everyday, no matter the season.
ReplyDeleteOctober was always my favorite month. All my life.
ReplyDeleteThen I became a homeowner, at 45. And a leaf shlepper.
Mid-October until early December, some years.
Forty to fifty bags a year, back when we still had all our trees.
What's my favorite month now? It's June...