We lost two old friends last night... :-(

We had some violent weather here last night, and during one period of straight-line winds, we lost the two OLD white oaks in our backyard. They had withstood tornados and lightning strikes, ice storms and blizzards, supported tree houses and tire swings, bird and squirrel nests, been climbed by kids and cats beyond memory, but last night was the final straw, and they gave up the ghost. I counted the rings today as the men were cutting them up, and they must have been planted the same year, because they were both 103 years-old.

Call me silly, but it hurts to see such magnificence die. :cry:

Old oaks give a feeling of stability in a topsy turvy world ....

Too bad ..... The big circle keepsa turnin ...

*sigh*

When we lost a big one in our front yard two years ago.

I understand how you fell.

...every time I've seen a familiar tree go down -- once, due to a neighbor's house being trashed/cleared for an apartment building -- it's painful...

I can't even imagine what my yard would look like without it.

I never realized what a difference trees make until then. It was like looking at an alien landscape--except I knew where I was at--but nothing looked the same.

I think it's incredibly sad.

The most beautiful sights to me in SC are the lush old oaks.

We loved to sit in the yard, even on hot days, because their spreads canopied the whole yard. We could even sit out in some rainstorms, and never get wet.

I'm gonna miss 'em like sin, but I'm also gonna plant new ones, so that people can enjoy THEM for the next century, or so. *sigh*

Or maybe "yep, it's definitely a tree" size?

I hate losing trees. Even though we're on a large, heavily wooded lot I cringe whenever we lose some.

Probably comes from being raised in SoCal, where every tree has been planted by some landscape company.

I feel for you, Padraig18 :(

Virtually every tree here on the prairie was deliberately planted by someone, so whenever we lose one, I feel as though a connection with the past has also died; being a budding historian, that bugs me more deeply than I can say.

my condolences. I hate it when trees die. there's something so very horrible about it. remember the tree in Texas someone poisoned? I still feel terrible about that one.

I truly felt 'sheltered'--- safe and protected--- when I was underneath them. *nods*

Wow that is amazing.

That really sucks that you lost both of the trees.

Like two proud, old men, still tall and straight, despite their advanced age. :(

Nothing is prettier then a tall strong oak!!

ally

:party::toast::beer:

Reminds of the old couple that Zeus and the other God visited, and the couple asked only that when one dies, the other dies, so they never have to be apart.

So sad to hear of the oaks dying - I love oak trees, all trees, really. The time-sense of trees must be amazing, that they see us as almost nothing with our short lifespans and constant generations while they go on, sometimes for thousands of years.

I tried imagining one without the other today, and I just couldn't see it in my mind, so maybe it's best this way.

Heart and brains, you lack not. :-) I too, hate to see a good tree fall. :cry:

/suck-up moment over/ :7

:hi:

:hug:

My friend and I hug trees there are trees that you love and are part of you! I have a Weeping Willow tree that I love it's my tree!
I live in NC (City of Oaks) Raleigh and when hurricane Fran hit us she took a many of our Oaks and one of my Pecans. I do understand your hurt and will go hug my one Oak tree for you.

Early this morning, before the men came to cut them up, I took my tea out and just sat with them, and told them how lovely they were, and how much joy they'd given us both. I don't think trees have souls (although they MIGHT, I suppose :shrug: ), but if they did, or if they could 'hear', I thought someone should at least say 'thank you; well done!' to them.

:shrug:

a teaching/religion of god but they where alive and growing so I understand what you mean, I think. You, I, and my friend would hit it off your having tea and telling your trees what you felt about them sounds so much like something we would do except we are coffee drinkers ;) logically (science) I know what the deal is but my soft heart part still feels that trees don't like being destroyed. When my Pecan tree was cut up I collected some of it's wood chips and made a piece of paper out of it so I could remember it. I still have wood chips saved from that tree for future pieces of paper/art. Why not? I loved that tree if that's silly so what!
My feeling of peace (and that's something we sure are in need of in these days) comes from plants, trees, and animals.
I admit it the things I miss most when I leave home is my animals and my yard. When I do leave I get someone to stay at my house and babysit them! I think I'm the silly one.

:hug: