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The Kitchen Table

My 100-year-old tree went down today... (many pics)

15 years ago

I think I posted about this before. We have THREE 100-year-old trees at three of the four corners of our old house. Last month, we saw one of the trees had a massive dead limb and had mushrooms growing UP IN THE LIMBS. It also had super-gooey mushrooms growing in the fork of the tree.

An arborist came out and examined it and said it should come down.

Today, we had it cut down. Silly as it may seem, both my husband and I feel quite sad about this. It was a beautiful old tree and provided much shade and it was a haven for the song birds and other wildlife.

However, we learned that Willow Oaks only live about 100 years old. They're the shortest lived of the oaks.

Once the tree cutters had it cut down to the stump, I felt better because I saw that the tree was fairly well rotted out at the base, and was in rough shape. It was close to the house and we have regular hurricanes around here.

Old rotted tree + storms + nearby old house = bad.

Here are some photos:

Short hubby and tall tree.

Before tree.

After tree.

Wood that went out with the big trucks.

Wood that stayed with us for firewood.

Base of tree, showing rot

Another view:

Stump grinding.

The end.

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Comments (11)

lavon46
15 years ago
I can understand why you were sad..it was a beautiful, living thing and it had to be hard to let it go !
Amazing, the size and all the wood it left for you......you can smile as you burn it to keep warm, knowing its your tree that you can enjoy just a little bit longer.
Georgysmom
15 years ago
Your yard must look so empty now. It's a sad thing to have to take down such a glorious tree, but when you see how it had deteriorated in the center, it's a good thing you had it taken down before it fell and created big,big problems.
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always_learning
15 years ago
Aww, that is sad. Trees provide so much for the environment.

My trees have some kind of foliage disease and I am scared to death I am going to lose them; may I ask where/how you found an arborist? I haven't had any luck yet.

Get another tree planted asap and treasure it!
hayjud_mn
15 years ago
Rosemary,
Seeing these pictures causes pangs of pain. We had to take down a 60foot Maple in our back yard years ago. It was actually one that we had planted. It is so sad to see those big beautiful trees go. That tree WAS our shade and the patio area was never enjoyed the same again.

For the safety, I'm glad you had it done before big problems, but I know you are going to miss it. You took some great pictures! Isn't it amazing how much of the middle can be gone and it was still standing.

Choose a beauty to replace it, and watch it grow.
vannie
15 years ago
That must have been heart breaking. We have a rent house w/ a huge, very old tree in the back yard and we dread the day something goes wrong and we have to take it down. It's just gorgeous, and we just know it will cost a small fortune. Thank goodness you have 2 left.
patti43
15 years ago
I love the big oak, but your house shows up nicely without it. It really was in bad shape and it's good you had it taken out before a big wind did it for you. And you still have some big, pretty trees. They did a great job! Wonder what they'll do with the wood???
hgl_gaylemarie
15 years ago
I dread the day I loose my Oaks. I know the feeling. Very sad.
vala55
15 years ago
Yes I think you made a good decision, it could have ended up on the house one day.
sue_va
15 years ago
Rose, how sad to see such a majestic beauty go down. It had to be done.

Long story short: At the corner of the yard at the house my family lived in for many years was a tall, beautiful, perfectly shaped pine tree; the kind with those long slender cones. It shaded and provided privacy for the front porch. My DH died; years later I sold the house.

I often wake up with a song going through my mind. One morning, a year or so after I sold it, it was the old song "They Cut Down the Old Pine Tree."

I went to work that day and my boss, who lived across the street from the house, asked me if I knew the pine tree had been cut down. I couldn't believe it. I had to go and see. There was the stump. No sign of rot showing. Unbelievable!

We knew the history of the house and knew when it was built and by whom. Also had met a lady who was born in that house.

The house was built about a hundred years ago and that tree had "always" been there.

You had no choice but to let your tree go.

I'll never understand why anyone would cut down a solid old healthy tree.

Don't understand how the mind works when I woke up with that song playing in my brain either.

Your house shows more beautifully though.

Sue
glenda_al
15 years ago
Did you save a piece of it for old times sake?

I have see some at craft shows where they have been varnished whatever and very nice remembrances.
foggyj
15 years ago
I'll bet that was hard to get down wasn't it? So many large limbs. It sure opens the yard up! Hard to part with what must seem like an old friend. That's how I feel about our live oak tree.

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