Oh, my poor tree

[pameladean]

The last few times that significant snowfall has been forecast for this area, we have not actually gotten it. Last night there was thunder and lightning and drizzle, then snow, then a gigantic pause, and then more snow. When I went to bed at two, there were still dimples in the new snow on the front lawn, showing up the underlying irregularity of the ground. When I got up at six am and looked out the back door, I could not see the houses on Nicollet Avenue, and such shapes as could be discerned seemed to be made entirely of snow . As I stood there admiring the view, there was a tremendous crack and a huffing sound, and the main trunk of the ancient lilac in our neighbors' back yard settled onto the top of the retaining wall that separates the yards. This was fairly distressing, but that lilac has weathered worse. But then, as I was sitting at my computer much later this morning, taking my medication and contemplating whether I should clear my desk off, open a couple of windows and their screens, and use a broom to brush the snow off the arborvita trees, there was a prolonged splintering crack and the larger of the two, the one on the north, fell right out of my view. I went outside, hastily putting on boots and jacket over my pyjamas, and saw that the tree had split in two right down to the ground and was lying across the front yard, full of tiny clusters of cones.

I got the snow shovel and brushed as much snow as I could from the other one. I hope it doesn't go too.

P.

Comments

[jonquil.livejournal.com]

That would break my heart, too.

In Charlotte, everybody planted Bradford pears, which have weak crotches. Every ice storm, the streets were littered with pears that had split under the weight.

[chamois-shimi.livejournal.com]

Good idea to remove the snow from the other one- we used to have an entire arborvitae hedge (about 15 feet tall) going on, until a bad snow and ice storm a couple winters ago. It snowed like crazy and the trees bent all the way down to the ground- we beat the snow off with mittens and brooms, and they were starting to spring back up again when the ice storm hit. They bent over again and there was some breakage, but we couldn't remove the ice without breaking off what it was attached to. They never recovered- they stayed all bent over no matter how we tried to tie them up and such, and weren't looking very healthy besides, so we finally removed the whole hedge late the following summer. Sadness. :(

[thinkum]

Just the thought of a lilac coming down, breaks my heart. They're my very favorite tree in all the world. But so sorry, too, to hear about your arborvitas (arborvitae?) -- will be thinking strong, stalwart thoughts at your second one, until the next thaw!

[kightp.livejournal.com]

Oh, how sad.

My Italian plum tree - the bearing one, in the back yard, not the ornamental out front - lost two big branches to the weight of its own fruit last summer; they cracked through far enough that I had to have them amputated for fear they'd crash down on the fence in the winter storms. The poor thing looks so lopsided now ...

[angeyja.livejournal.com]

I am sorry about your tree.

You just reminded me about the Wisteria. So I went outside to weave it, and a bit of string. It's hard to believe that a few years ago it was a seed from JL Hudson. I planted it in a small pot the same year I put in fantin latour which is across the path from it. The rose has done what it shouldn't and climbed up over the gutters.

I have tied it to the house. One of them is holding the other up.

The wisteria is leaning against a wrought iron piece. Hopefuly this summer I'll get the rest of it in and then weave them together over the path.

[angeyja.livejournal.com]

Apologies if that is a bit disjointed. We've rain rain rains and my allergies and head are awkward.

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

It is indeed a great loss.

K.

[marileeann.livejournal.com]

I thought about you yesterday; one of our underwriters in Eden Prairie said that hardly anyone made it to work on time because of the weather. (He said 10 inches of snow and 30 mph winds. True?)

I'm sorry about your trees. We lost a favorite right outside the kitchen window over my sink last June 19 in a whopper storm. I hate that blank spot in my view.

[pameladean]

Oh yeah, Eden Prairie did get ten inches of snow, and the wind was gusting to 40 pretty much all over. I think that's why the tree went down. The weight of the snow plus the wind was too much.

I'm not going to have anything new in my worst blank spot for some time, since I'm on the second floor, but I've contemplated putting a rose in where the tree was, and a deciduous tree out in the yard proper to eventually shade the sun porches. Those arborvitas were planted too close to the house.

Are you going to replace your favorite?

P.

[marileeann.livejournal.com]

We planted a golden willow. It will grow fast (if it lives) and fill up the space fairly quickly.

It won't be the same as that great ash tree, but the birds will be happy, and I won't see the blank spot anymore.

[jackiejj.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry about the tree! (But how well you described its falling.)

What happened about jury duty?

[pameladean]

Reschedule for the two-week period beginning May 8. They were perfectly nice about it.

I should do a general update, I guess.

P.

[jackiejj.livejournal.com]

Oh, good. I'm glad they were nice.

[cogitationitis.livejournal.com]

A few falls ago, our plum split under the weight of the fruit. Using a couple of boards to keep the string from cutting into the bark, we tied it back together and braced it. So far, it's doing fine.

Don't give up on your arborvita; try tying or bandaging it back together & see how it goes.