I'm a tree hugger. There I said it. I love trees. The idea of chopping down a perfectly lovely, perfectly harmless and perfectly healthy mature tree is not only ridiculous to me, but cruel. It literally brings tears to my eyes.
I've put it off as long as was possible, but my contractor, ever so gingerly since he figured me out, mentions it on a weekly basis. As in "Val, I know this is a sore subject, but you're really going to have to remove the trees soon." So...I made the call and my fantastic gardener and his team are out there right now - chainsaws in hand, like something out of a bad horror movie, destroying --- and yes --- murdering my amazing magnolia tree, along with a 30' fan palm and a 25 year old Yucca tree. I can't decide who I'm going to miss more. The magnolia produces huge fragrant flowers that plucked from the tree, and placed alone in a glass vessel have produced more oohs and aahs at parties than I can recall. The huge glossy leaves made amazing platforms for cheeses as well! The fan palm is a Southern California staple and quite honestly - I don't care much for them, but when we planted it we knew nothing about trees. Lastly, my beautiful Yucca. This tree must be well over 25 years old. It's like a quiet, but elegant old woman with it's twisty bark. I'll shed a tear to see that one go.
So I hear the buzz of chainsaws and the shouts of my gardener and his workers, and I choose not to look. I know that you can't stop progress. I know that you've got make some changes to make other changes, I know that the trees must be removed to make room for the addition, but still, I really can't bear it.
I feel your pain, Val. I did have to take down a large hemlock when our addition went on a couple years ago, but it wasn't a favorite tree at least. And most of the trees that came down for our septic work, both in 2000 and in 2008, were milled into lumber and will live on as furniture and other things out of my shop.
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