The mighty oak... Part 2

Vince has been busy this season; a few weeks ago, he removed a tree from the front yard of the neighbor across the street. Another oak, I think, but because of overcrowding, not disease. Before taking down the oak next door, he took down a black walnut from another yard two houses down the street.

The neighborhood squirrels are really going to be upset about that one - they loved those walnuts! I always wondered where they came from and for years have watched them come scampering up the street with a walnut in their mouth, scurry across my fence rail, and busily bury the damn things in MY yard! Each spring, I pull up oodles of baby walnut trees, along with a bazillion baby oaks from my own acorns that they've buried.

Anyway, back to the neighbor's oak. If you've never seen a huge, old tree taken down, let me tell you, it's an impressive sight to see. I pulled up a lawn chair on the deck and watched while they worked. These guys are so efficient and really know what they're doing. They get all their ropes in place and shimmy up the tree like they're going for a stroll. Systematically they go from branch to branch, cutting at just the right angle and place, and each piece falls exactly where it's supposed to. The ground literally shakes when an extra fat piece falls with a huge th-u-u-nk sound. By the time they're finished, most of the branches have been ground up in the chipper for mulch and all that's left of this magnificent specimen of nature is a lonely, naked, barren trunk.

It took more than 30 years for this tree to grow about 75 feet tall. It took less than 3 hours to bring it down. It was really kind of sad. There's a big ol' empty spot now and that yard is going to get lots and lots of sun. There'll be a whole new environment over there.

Now all that's there is air. The tree used to be where
the light brown circle is in front of the trampoline.

We, on the other hand, are getting lots and lots of wood!

to be continued...