the sad tale of the unwanted apple tree

[lizziebelle]

bare apple tree
Originally uploaded by Lizzie~Belle.

See this beautiful old crabapple tree? It was one of my favorites down at Stanley Park. In the summer, it created a cool shelter under its leaves and branches tall enough to stand in. It arched in an almost complete dome all around.

Yesterday, I went by this spot, and this is what I saw:



All of the trees along the road here have been ripped out, and replaced by saplings. I was so upset I nearly cried. All those beautiful old trees, gone.

Comments

[lamentables.livejournal.com]

Oh no! That really does seem very sad.

[queenoftheskies.livejournal.com]

I see that a lot around here. I think it's criminal.

[leenah.livejournal.com]

you could contact the public works dept. to ask why they do this. we do things here like that, and we do have good reasons, given the goal of trees here.

one reason i know of could be that they think the tree won't live much longer, or will become ill and drop limbs, being unsightly and potentially dangerous. they might think winter weather would cause it to fall.

i do agree, it's really really crummy regardless.

[lizziebelle.livejournal.com]

Well, it's not on public land, so it was the decision of the owners of the park. I have noticed that they haven't been pruning the trees for the past couple of years, so they were getting a bit leggy. Still, not a reason to cut them down! I just hate to see old trees go, unless they're already dead or diseased. These weren't.

[elphaba-of-oz.livejournal.com]

I really, really, really hate people who murder healthy, mature trees.

F%ckers. I hope someone cuts them down and replaces them with a sapling.

[fabricdragon.livejournal.com]

why would they DO that. it was a beautiful tree!
can you complain to the park service?

[lizziebelle.livejournal.com]

I'm thinking of contacting them and asking why they did it. It seems so unnecessary!

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

That's sad :-(

I remember being horrified one time, coming across a chopped-down orchard--still makes me upset thinking of it. The trees in big piles... they put houses up there :-(

At least there's a new tree in the ground there, but why did they take the beautiful old one down? :-(

[lizziebelle.livejournal.com]

I really don't know. I might just contact them and ask.

[westlinwind.livejournal.com]

*frowns* That's yucky.

[sea-dark-wine.livejournal.com]

I agree, that's a sad thing to lose such a beautiful tree. If you do find out why, let us know.

[lizziebelle.livejournal.com]

Will do. :)

[shortysugarplum.livejournal.com]

Ugh, how awful. I *hate* when plants are treated as disposable. Around here, there are tons of public areas and businesses with elaborate landscaping that's changed seasonally and when they're done with one setting, they dig all the plants up and throw them away.