Trees

A couple years ago, a maintenance crew from the city came and “trimmed” our six beautiful maple trees, cutting them back so severely on the sides that faced the street it made me cry.   The street sweeper driver had complained that our trees, and other trees in town were in his way when he swept the street.

Just a few days ago, a local tree trimmer was in the neighborhood trimming some trees down the street from us, and he stopped by, wanting to know if we would like our maples trimmed.  He promised to trim them carefully and get them away from the power lines before the city came around and had another go.

I watched him Sunday as he got to work.  He gazed up at the first maple, making mental notes-and then he donned climbing gear and got to work removing suckers, dead branches and extraneous limbs.  By the end of the next day, each tree was perfect!

Our maples are beautiful again!

We also have two spruce trees.  They have been on this property since at least 1947-a former owner who lived in this house back then stopped by last spring and told me he remembered them.  That makes them at least 65 years old and probably much older than that.  Unfortunately, their future is not looking too bright.  They have been looking sickly for awhile now, and the diagnosis we’ve been given is that they are infected with the spruce bud worm-a fatal parasite.  Along with the pine beetle, these two pests  are devastating the forests around here-and from what I’ve read will in fact wipe out around 85% of the trees in the next 15 years. (When we drove to Leavenworth a couple weeks ago, I was alarmed by the number of dead trees I saw!)

We have two options for our spruce trees.  Cut them down, or for the same cost, try to save them with a combination of root injections and pesticide spray.  While I hate to see trees cut down, I also hate the thought of spraying chemicals on them that would probably be toxic to any living creatures who come near them.  But we have to do something-I feel we have a responsibility to the other coniferous trees in the area who might not be infected with the spruce bud worm yet.

And so the spruce trees have to go.  We will replace them in the spring with two new trees.

And while we are on the subject of trees…

I finally made a new bag yesterday!  I hadn't used my little Singer Featherweight in so long that it was covered in spider webs! 

Here is my newest creation, the Palm Tree Market Bag.  Recognize the fabric?  I had a remnant left over from the living room curtains.

I just love this barkcloth.  It has the most beautiful combination of colors on it, including pink.  Even the Snapshot Sailors approve!

Hope the week is going well for all of you.  Have a wonderful day!