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Any fool can destroy trees, they
cannot run away.
- John Muir -
see What's
Coming Up #49 and What's
Coming Up #152
Below: They may not die right away but they suffer greatly
and die eventually from the extra soil added over their roots and
the airlessness of soil pressed hard by construction equipment.
Sometimes we wish they would die more quickly and dramatically so
that builders and new homeowners might begin to connect action and
consequence.
In a tree... anchoring roots... are
most developed opposite to the prevailing winds, ...and its
strength is related to the wind pressure which it must needs
withstand.
- D'Arcy Thomas, in On Growth and
Form -
see What's
Coming Up #88
Stress builds strength. As prairie
oaks shift in the weather, roots develop to counter prevailing
winds. Prevent the tree from swaying, and its wood and
roots will become less strong.
Happy the Man...
Whose trees in summer yield him Shade
In Winter Fire
- Benjamin Franklin, in Poor
Richard's Almanack, 1744 -
see What's
Coming Up # 152
I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree...
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.
- Joyce Kilmer, in Trees
-
see What's
Coming Up # 152
Above: Flower of tulip poplar (Liriodendron
tulipifera), and burls that create a face on an old tree
trunk.
I think that I shall never
see
A billboard lovely as a tree.
Indeed, unless the billboards fall
I'll never see a tree at all.
- Ogden Nash, in Song of the Open
Road -
see What's
Coming Up #153
Woodman, spare that tree!
Touch not a single bough!
In youth it sheltered me,
And I'll protect it now.
- George Pope Morris, in Woodman
Spare That Tree -
If the environment allows, a tree may grow vigorously even
after extensive damage and even grow over the injuries. Yet, even
in death they can be beautiful and useful, as this dogwood
skeleton being used as art and rose support.
It is a simple matter to plant trees
in straight lines, but informal groupings will test the
sensitivities of the most experienced planter and the smaller the
groups the more difficult they are to place.
- Graham Stuart Thomas, in Great
Gardens of Britain -
Red horsechestnut (Aesculus
x carnea) is not renowned for long life so we anticipate
replacing this 20 year old in another 10 or 20 years. However, it
is not known for fall color, either, yet it's been providing this
kind of show fairly reliably. So we'll bide its time and meanwhile
enjoy it for all it cares to give!
If a tree dies, plant another in its
place.
- Carl Linnaeus -
see
What's Coming Up #164
On either side of the
front walk there towered two
old horse-chestnut trees. I loved their sticky,
unfurling leaves, and when they bore their candles
it was magic, breath-catching, eye-delighting. Cut
down, cut down. What kind of man cuts down trees
that took all those years to grow? I do not
understand.
- from the poem Horse-Chestnut
Trees and Roses by James Schuyler -
Left: Horsechestnuts trees have a distinctively
craggy appearance.
Below: In our town 150 years ago, a man planted
trees. He loved the
horsechestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum); many
remain, their blooms
providing a fine 'welcome back' to hummingbirds each
spring.
The tree which moves some to
tears of joy is in the eyes of others only a green thing which
stands in the way.
- William Blake -
...Cinderella at the
ball, the common mulberry, so drab and unappreciated the remainder
of the year, suddenly (briefly) glows brilliant yellow, a beacon of
splendor.
- Carol Bishop Hipps, In a
Southern Garden, 1994 -
For more on trees by fall color, see Fall Color Landscape
White mulberry (Morus alba) and red mulberry
(Morus rubra) trees are very similar in appearance but for
the glossiness of white mulberry leaves. The red mulberry, native
in eastern North America, would be a good, sturdy, undemanding,
wildlife-friendly tree for the landscape but the white mulberry's
weedy nature has caused most gardeners to dismiss all mulberries
from consideration.
..
Oh, for the room to grow every tree we love. Yet a
quarter-acre suburban lot has room for just 3 to 5 medium- to large
trees.