Ravaged Oak Tree

This is an all too common sight around here. What' s left of this large oak tree is in Spring Lake Park. It interests me as something to paint, but it also is a good example of why people are cutting down oak trees all around us. There have been a lot of downed trees and massive cleanups after storms in Spring Lake Park. I'm glad they left this ghost. It tells a graphic story of the power of Mother Nature.

An oak fell without notice on the hill behind a neighbor's house, narrowly missing their deck. The arborist was scheduled to take off a large branch, but didn't make it in time. Apparently it would have fallen anyway. Both of their neighbors have now had trees cut down. Oaks also tend to have very long overhanging branches, which frequently fall of their own weight.

We have a lot of oak trees on our property, but no limbs overhang our house, and the thought even of trimming these giant trees is daunting, so we'll keep our fingers crossed!

The things we have learned in the last year and a half--from septic systems to wells, perc tests and water treatment to planting and maintaining a hilly, rocky garden. Considering the fact that most people, including OilMan's grandparents in Ukiah, move "into town" from life on the farm, we seem to have done things backwards, but we have no regrets. We also exchanged a high maintenance 100 year old house in a densely populated town, a tiny back yard, and a view into our neighbor's kitchen, for better weather, an expansive view and a large, evolving garden. And we are still healthy enough to keep it all going!

Life is good.