A Tribute to our Tree

This tree has been a topic of debate since we bought our home- 

should it stay or should it go.

Scott has sided on it should go:

  Roots have cracked and pushed up the driveway, need room for a basketball hoop,  too hard to back up the Airstream,  leaves in the fall to clean up,  mess on the cars from birds, the spiky seed pods.

I have sided on it should stay:

   I thought when we replace the driveway, just use pavers and have the roots trimmed.  

 Love this tree for these reasons

• shade and lots of it  
  
• fall foliage- living a warmer climate, this is one of the few trees that you get to see a color change in.  Hence why it is called Liquid Amber
• raking those leaves with Chance and Jordan-- at least the first 10 minutes.
• the largest tallest tree on the block-- adds beauty to my home and neighborhood.
• at least 35 years old--

It had come time for the tree to be trimmed and thinned out. The cost is significant and then if we did take it out later- that would another significant cost.   Scott left on a overnight scout trip and  with..."The guy will be here in the morning to trim the tree.  I really would like you to take it down though, it is your decision"

I was faced in a predicament, one that caused me to shed lots of tears.  I made the final call based on the possibility that when the offending roots were cut-- the tree could be weakened.  Either part of it dieing and/or the tree falling down in a high wind.  The possibility of it falling over convinced me it needed to be taken down. 

And so this mighty tree that grew for 35 years was reduced to just a stump in less then a day.    And the tree guy was surprised that our neighbors were sad also.  They have lived here for all those years-- I am sure it was even harder for them.  This tree was between our homes, just on the edge of our property line.

It is bare-- 

And Scott has found that the light from the street lamp that is no longer blocked by the tree-- bothers him, it is hard to sleep.   I wonder what else we will miss as the days and season go by.   I hope that when we pull up the driveway there are roots everywhere, confirming that is was a good decision or I just may cry again!  

I now need to decide what to replace that tree with-- it is required by the city.  Something I will like as much as the Liquid Amber, but not so shallow, invasive roots.

This change has been hard...