love thy trees

In our backyard we have two old elm trees.

Correction, we had two old elm trees.

It's all really sad for me really.  Three months into owning our house, the city comes and sprays a thick orange line around our seventy year-old elm.  It's the one in the center of the yard, the one that kind of made the backyard.  I loved it for its shade, twirly arms, and impressive expanse.  I didn't even notice it was sick, it happened suddenly; little droopy branches here and there, then suddenly it's green canopy was yellow and on the grass within a week.

Anyway, the tree was cut down a couple days ago and needless to say, looking at the backyard, it's evident something is missing.  Majorly missing.

See that whole above the house?  That's where the pretty tree was.  {Sigh.}

I'm trying to make this somewhat positive by obsessing about new planting options on the Arbor Day website and looking at every tree I pass as potential inspiraton.  Trees are pretty great, I wish I noticed them more!  We should all be grateful for them.

Pictures while walking Teddy along Minnehaha.

 

There are too many trees marked for Dutch Elm Disease around the neighborhood and ours is one of the young ones, at seventy.  (I counted the rings!)

In other yard news, the hydrangeas are in bloom, so things could be worse;)