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06/24/2015 08:00 AMIt is not often that I speak out publicly but I feel I need to.
On most mornings, I sit in my living room with my morning cup of coffee gazing out my picture window at the beautiful trees and birds. On one particular morning recently, I awakened to the sound of chain saws near the road by a tree that I have grown to love, a catalpa. This tree has provided me with much pleasure watching a hawk sit upon its tallest branch scouring the land for its morning prey, or a pair of squirrels chasing each other around and around in a game of catch-me-if-you-can, not to mention countless woodpeckers and other bird species. This tree stood in all its majestic glory at approximately 90 to 100 feet tall. It was probably well over 75 years old and has withstood numerous hurricanes, blizzards, and countless others storms with very little limb loss.
I spoke to the tree trimmers asking if they were just doing a limb trimming, but much to my dismay, they were planning on taking it completely down. (I understand that they were just doing their job as having been instructed by the town.) I literally sobbed at the loss of this beautiful piece of nature and the senseless cutting of it.
I had a chance later in the morning after the tree was gone to speak to one of the workman. He showed me part of the trunk. Yes, there was a small amount of rot, but after some prodding it was agreed that she probably would have stood for another 20 years or so.
Alas, I find myself sadly looking out the window at the space, now so empty, with longing. I think I’ll be rearranging my living room furniture.
Chris Groat
Deep River