The Loss of an Old Oak
We had our arborist, a wonderful person named Peter, come look at it recently and he let us know that the tree was dehydrated. No matter how much we watered it, it was probably not enough. Altadena, once a gorgeous oasis of plants and trees sprouting from neighbors gardens is gone now. There is no water table. So even if I was watering it every week it’s a drop in the bucket of what was once there. Due to the devastation of the fire the tree is also weak. So even if it did survive there is a large chance it would have a hard time fighting off diseases in the future, such as red fungus, meaning it may only live another five years or so.
This is obviously not the outcome we wanted. Peter told us we should plant an Engelmann not knowing we already had in the front. Seeing how much that little tree has grown already gives me hope.
The Lost Trees of Willow Avenue does not shy away from where we find ourselves, but it did provide me with something like hope. My story is sadly not unique on this earth. I loved how Mike Tidwell took what was happening on his street and expanded it globally. This was a beautiful little book. And it found me at the right time. He ended each conversation with one question for the people in his community, what gives you hope? And for me. It is my community. I don’t know what lies ahead. But I do know I have people I can count on and they can count on me.
And so it goes. Where there is death. There is also life. Goodbye tree. I’ll miss your towering shade and the squirrels bounding across my roof to get to your branches. Thank you for everything.
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