My favorite trees are dying. 😦
Earlier this year I’d noticed a dead branch hanging loosely from its base. This spring, the tree trimmers neglected to lop it off. Our maintenance guy says the branches are hollow and they’re afraid to do any more trimming.
He showed me how the branch coming from the base of the tree on the left is decaying. The other tree has a branch where a whole section of bark and “tree tissue” is missing. It’s like looking at a forearm with one side of skin and muscle missing, exposing the bone.
Here’s what I wrote way back in April, 2008 at (the old) Stream of Conscience.
It’s my annual rite of spring. The trees outside my entry are in full bloom, and it’s raining.
I don’t know what kind of trees they are. They sort of look like cherry trees. And the blossoms look like “double cherry blossoms.” They tend to bloom about 1-2 weeks after the “official” cherry blossoms and keep their blooms for about one week. My neighbor (who knows these things) says they’re almond trees.
Every year, at least once during their week of full bloom, it rains. The wet blossoms are so heavy, they pull the branches down so far that I have to duck when I walk under them. That day is my unofficial rite of spring.
My neighbor has since passed away. I was going to end this post by asking, “How will I ever know when spring arrives once the trees gone?” But now that seem frivolous compared to the fond memories of my neighbor.
Stream of Conscience 