Street Corner Series

Hyde at Edgewood

Out for a walk.  This big redwood being taken down carefully bit by bit in someone's front yard.  The arborists started from the bottom up with the branches.  Then the trunk in sections, all carefully tied before it was lopped off and then lowered gently to the ground.  What you see in the pictures is not the full height

Lady:  Is the angle better there?
Me: Yeah
Lady came over with her iPhone to where I was standing...
Me: Do you know if the tree was damaged in the storm this week?
Lady: The tree, it's my tree, was already not doing great and the storms finished it off.  You see how it's leaning?
Me: Oh no, I'm sorry. 
Lady: I didn't sleep a wink last night knowing it was coming down.  I am so upset to see it go.  We love this tree, we've lived with it and tended it for 20 years since we bought the house.  People have been so horrible about it coming down, abusive, like we don't care about the tree, but what can I do, let it fall and kill someone??

We went on to discuss the terrible storms, the city and the response to the tree damage everywhere.  She was clearly upset about losing the tree, she said they were losing the precious shade and protection that went with it, as well as the beauty.  I asked if they were going to plant something new, yes.  I suggested there might be carpenters and artists that might be interested in the beautiful redwood trunk for their work.  She perked up a bit and said oh yes, benches and all sorts of things could be made out of it...

Me: Hang in there
Lady: It was nice meeting you.
Me: You too.