Recently, I was on my way to Owatonna. I needed to stop at Target, but with construction near the store, I decided to take the back roads up to the big city rather than the interstate. As I was cruising along, I passed a house and remembered years ago when it was being built. I noted that the tiny evergreens that had been planted at that time had grown to immense size, and the property owners had added many other beautiful trees.
While I was in Owatonna, I stopped by a picnic being offered by a place with which I do business. Always accepting of a free meal, I sat down at a table near a group of people I did not know. As I ate, they visited about a cornucopia of topics. When one lady mentioned that she knew she had lived at a location for a long time because of the size of a tree now compared to when they planted it, serendipity seemed to take hold of me. Two separate instances of tree growth within an hour? It must be a sign that my next column should be about trees.
I like trees. As a youngster, I spent many hours climbing trees on my parents’ land. I’m sure there were times I was a lot higher than my mom would have been comfortable with, but I never fell or hurt myself beyond some scratches from branches.
Speaking of branches, those that fell from the trees made for great swords. The neighbor kids and I would have tremendous battles until someone’s sword broke.
We had a weeping willow in our front yard for many years until age and storms got the better of it. It was great for shade, even if it wasn’t the best for climbing. We also had a birch tree that I may have hit a few times with the lawnmower. That tree is gone too.
But there are still so many trees at my parents’ place. Many of them seemed large when I was small, so I’ve referenced some pictures that were taken to note just how much they’ve actually grown. However, I have not done any math equations to see if the rate of growth between those trees and my height correspond.
Dad would spend a week every October cutting down trees in a family-owned woods. We heated the house via a woodstove most of the time. That was NOT my favorite week of the year except for the times I could galavant around those woods, doing what I wanted. Picking up logs and splitting them was not the most fun, but it was necessary.
Michelle and I get upset when we see trees taken down to build things. Obviously, sometimes that is unavoidable, but to see a nice big tree get chopped down, one that has stood for decades, is hard to watch. “Timber!” my dad would yell when he cut one down with the chainsaw.
And yes, I know that the paper on which you are reading this and that make up those books I enjoy so much is made from trees. Sometimes, as I grow frustrated by the move to all things digital, I remind myself that fewer trees will need to be cut down as we march, inevitably, toward that age.
One of our neighbors had a string of bad luck with trees for a time. And just a year or so ago, another of their trees had to come down. A wicked storm had knocked some big branches off, and they were worried that one of our garages might pay the price someday. However, they have been planting some new trees, and I’m sure that in ten years or so, they’ll be large and gorgeous.
Not long ago, we heard a loud noise from outside as we ate. It turned out someone had lost control of their truck and hit a different neighbor’s tree. Luckily the tree was there, or the truck would’ve hit the house! I’ve been keeping an eye on that tree, though. I hope the damage from the accident won’t do permanent harm or kill it.
I knew I was on the right track to write this column about trees when, just a day before I sat down to write this missive, a neighbor commented on how much they love our big evergreen in the front yard. My youngest sister bought it for us when we moved in 22 years ago; at the time it was about a foot tall, and now it’s as tall as the house! It’s a hotel for birds all year round, and we know we have a rabbit family living under it as well. Our landscaping has evolved to move around this tree.
At the same time, we’re trying to save our maple tree. It’s got some big branches that are dead, and there are woodpecker holes all over it. We’ve been consulting with the experts at Sequoia Landscaping to do all we can to save this wonderful shade-bringer with marvelous colors in the fall.
I love trees! As you look around at all the trees in your life, hopefully you’ll have good feelings as well. However, I will refrain from climbing trees any time soon!
Word of the Week: This week’s word is quixotry, which means absurdly chivalrous, as in, “The quixotry shown by the tree lover to defend one oak from a chainsaw was doomed to failure.” Impress your friends and confuse your enemies!