Wednesday, October 26, 2011

About a Tree

Last night at about 2:00 a.m. I woke up to crashing noises and noticed the electricity flickering on and off. I looked outside and the first snow of the season had covered everything with about six inches of heavy, wet snow. The trees were buckling under the weight of it all, and I listened as tree branches cracked and fell to the ground throughout the neighborhood.

Ken and I got up to try to brush snow off of some of the smaller trees. It was too late. The Autumn Blaze Maple we had carefully planted three years ago stood sad and limp.

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We noticed a huge chunk of the tree on the ground and realized that the top had snapped off. Now it can’t grow anymore.

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There is something about a tree. It adds character and life to a space. It gives shade, color and a home to some. When we dug up the old juniper bush that had been there for 30 years and replaced it with this sweet little sapling, it made me so happy. It was a fresh start for that little space by the driveway. And as it grew, I loved seeing it get stronger, wider and more beautiful.

And, yes, The Giving Tree was one of my favorite books growing up.

“….And when he was tired,
he would sleep in her shade.
And the boy loved the tree....
very much.
And the tree was happy.”

I just commented to Emma yesterday how the red in that tree was one of the most vibrant and stunning colors of the season, and that I hoped the snowfall wouldn’t take off too many of its leaves. I just wish I had taken a picture of it yesterday.

Here is what it looked like – not our actual tree, but you get the idea:

Yes, I know it’s just a tree not a person. But today it feels like a loss and makes me sad. Plus I’m tired from being up at 2:00 a.m. and my own Autumn Blaze is in town if you know what I mean.

Going to go for a run because a run always makes it better.

SUAR

49 comments:

  1. Oh no. Trees dying young is so sad... my husband and I almost cried when our beautiful maple came crashing down last year during a storm. I saved a leaf and pressed it and now it's stored under "Tree" in my dictionary. :)

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  2. A sad waste of nature.

    Obviously that tree was not training as hard as you!

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  3. Aww, that's too bad! And seriously, I can't believe the snow already...

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  4. Losing a tree is sad especially maple trees in Colorado. It sounds like it was a memeber of the family. I would contact the Tree Farm or other and get advice if it can be saved. You said it couldn't but you never know.
    Stay warm and safe.

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  5. That looks like my plum tree after our big winter snow. Can't believe it's snow time already.

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  6. Awww, that is too bad about your tree. What a gorgeous hue! And EWWW to the early snowfall!!! I'm putting the winter tires on today... gah!

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  7. Aw, that is really sad. I'm sorry, girl.

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  8. Oh my! So sorry...can NOT believe you have snow on the ground already...
    have a great run!

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  9. I understand how you feel. We planted a tree when each of our boys were born and we bought a decent sized one for my youngest and when it died I almost cried.

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  10. That is sad. There's something about cultivating a tree yourself that makes it extra special.

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  11. Boo! So sad. We live in a townhouse community so we can't really control our landscaping. I came home one day to find that they had chopped down a beautiful mature tree that was right in front of our house. The tree provided shade which made our house cooler and it just made the front of our house look nicer. I was so devastated that our tree had gotten chopped down that I started to cry!! I was pretty upset for about a week so I totally understand and obviously I have an attachment to trees, too

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  12. I think I can help you save your tree. Like Peg said, contact The Tree Farm. I am the manager there. Send me some pictures after the snow melts and we can figure out how to prune it to keep it growin! mike@thetreefarm.com

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  13. Sad..I love some of my trees more than some of the peeps in my life...

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  14. So sorry about your tree! I am sure that it was beautiful.

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  15. That is a shame. Whenever we visit Phila we go past our first house and check on the size of a beautiful cherry tree we planted there the first year we were married. It's always fun to see the progress.

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  16. Yet another reason to hate snow. I am sorry about your tree and I hope you have a nice run! Stay warm! It is so cold out there!

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  17. Sorry about your beautiful tree. Plant a new tree and relive this great moment and you'll be just fine:
    "it made me so happy. It was a fresh start for that little space by the driveway. And as it grew, I loved seeing it get stronger, wider and more beautiful."

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  18. I'm sorry about your tree. Maybe it can be saved! And I've always been kinda jealous of where you live, but having snow in October?? Well, that just cured that. Sorry about the snow.

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  19. We are in Longmont and have the same tree. I posted a pic of ours on FB too as I was so sad for it. I tried to shake the snow off. Ours didn't crack so hope it can bounce back.

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  20. Wow that is gorgeous. We don't see too many trees with those colors in Southern California.

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  21. That is sad! I know how you feel. During hurricane Irene, the most beautiful oak I've ever seen (located next to JFK's grave in Arlington National Cemetary) came down and died. This tree was alive during George Washington's presidency, and it made me sad that it couldn't be saved.

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  22. Oh, that rots. Sorry about the tree!
    And, yikes -- that's a lot of snow. Wowzer.

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  23. I had a favorite tree growing up that got taken down with a wild windstorm once. I know the feeling of loss you talk about when something is not just a piece of your property- but something that signifies in your mind that this is your home.

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  24. So sad about your tree! They are so beautiful! Heard you guys got hit a little worse up there but one of the ladies I work with had the tree in her yard fall on her house...yikes!

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  25. Love Shel Silverstein. Love trees. I studied ornamental trees in college and totally agree with your statement about them adding character and life. And each tree has its own character, quirks and personality. RIP, Autumn Blaze.

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  26. Oh no!!!! That really sucks!! I'm so sorry!! Boo

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  27. Oh gosh, I hadn't read your blog before sending you that email article about the guy stuck in the tree.

    One of our trees recently fell. It was beautiful too. It is sad. I feel your pain. They are also expensive to replace if you don't want to just wait and watch them grow.

    My 3 year old loves the Giving Tree as do I!

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  28. That is sad, what a cool tree.
    Hope you had a great run. I miss running in fresh snow, it looked beautiful at your house.

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  29. That would make me a little sad too.

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  30. It is not just a tree. It is a part of your home which means its a part of your family. Mourn the loss.....

    then dump in the half that is still there.....that'll make you feel better.

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  31. It will still grow, but not tall (apical dominance if you must know). Talk the Tree Farm person - you can prune it so it still shows itself off.

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  32. You have WAY more snow than we have down south. There isn't even anything on the roads here. Sorry about the tree :(, I'd be bummed too.

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  33. sorry to hear about your tree the not-really-you tree looks beautiful, id be sad too

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  34. I'm so sorry!!! Big hug!

    PS - LOVE THAT BOOK! Everything Shel Silverstein does is great....I also love A Light In The Attic.

    xo
    Sarah
    Get UP & Go

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  35. One of the reasons that we bought the house we're living in was because of the beautiful tree in the back yard. Your tree was certainly beautiful and I totally get why you'd be sad.

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  36. Sad day for your tree :( A lot of trees in Denver snapped because of the weight of the snow.

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  37. Go Mike at the Tree Farm! That's so cool.
    SUAR, did you go for a run in the snow?

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  38. Couldn't believe you guys already got such a huge snowfall! It's too early for that.

    Hope the run work its magic :)

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  39. I cannot read The Giving Tree without tearing up. I am sorry about your tree. I was like that when we had to cut down our grandmother's tree because it got a disease. There is something about it being there for years and years and seeing so much. Not a person, but definitely has been there for the memories. The neighbors bought us a tree to plant in memory of my mother. It is tiny, but growing at my parent's house. I hope it lives a long time!

    I hope you had a great run too!

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  40. LOVE trees! What a beautiful tree....I'm sorry! When we first moved here they were clearing out trees in the back to make room for another house. My hubby forewarned me before he left for work but it was devastating as I watched. I was close to becoming a tree hugger that day!
    Hang in there and I hope your run helped!

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  41. What a beautiful tree, they are living things too! We lost a few branches this storm as well =(

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  42. That's one of my favorite books too....

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  43. We lost one of our trees too. Rick was actually going to chop it down so that our two aspen trees had room to grow, so he was actually happy about it. When I saw that poor tree all bent and broken, it made me sad! Poor living thing. Rick promised we would replant another one.

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