Wednesday 18 March 2020

Arborphilia?

                         
                                    

It's strange the random things you remember from your distant childhood.

We were probably about 12 years old. My friend Michael and I had gone up to 'the dorm' where we came across another 'dorm' member, Coulson, seriously blubbing his eyes out.

Such things were taken very seriously at Prep' school, and our immediate concern was that maybe one of his parents, or even a well-loved pet, had died; so we approached him with considerable sensitivity.

'What's up, Coulson; you pathetic fart?' we asked.

'They've cut down my tree' he replied; now blubbing even more than before.

'What stupid bloody tree?' we asked, whilst dunking his head in the bog.

'My favourite climbing tree' he spluttered.

My recollection fails at this point, but I quite expect that we de-bagged him, then gave him a kindly good kicking and told him not to be such an obnoxious little cry-baby. We did our best to show our sympathy and understanding, as 12 years olds do.

I've never shed tears at the felling of a tree, but there are certain ones around that would sadden me to see cut down.

Our own huge 'Royal Oak' will hopefully live out its days and eventually die a respectable oak death. There are also a few enormous pines around, as well as some truly ancient chestnuts, that I would genuinely miss.

I'm not a 'tree hugger', in the Prince Charles sense, but I do give a passing slap on the bottom to certain trees as I pass by. And, yes, I do occasionally wish them a 'good morning' too.

32 comments:

  1. Now there is an idea, Cro. In these strange times of self isolating, a tree is a great stand-in. Unlike, say, a pillow it's alive. Connecting you to Mother Earth. If you are hug averse you can always just lean your back against a tree. And look up. Into the canopy.

    In the motherland we used to have a saying, when caught in a thunderstorm, Donner und Blitzen, loosely translated: "Oaks you should avoid, Beeches you shall seek". It doesn't rhyme. In English. Sorry. To this day I wonder what makes an Oak such a lightning magnet. I also worry that these days people don't know one tree from the other.

    There are many reasons why I love trees. The individual standalone one, and all of them in a forest. Forests, the woods the most magical, intriguing scapes of land. Signifies "home" for me. Whatever home maybe. A sort of undefinable, I don't know, well, "home". Safe.

    U

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    1. We are lucky as we have some magnificent trees nearby. Our own huge 'Royal Oak' is a good example. I couldn't live anywhere that had no trees.

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    2. might be because oak trees have a big tap root , Beech is shallow rooted.

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  2. I once went up to the temple area here with a group of new agers and we hugged a few pine trees. I wasn't impressed and don't think the pines were either.
    The lemon trees need a good shake just now. I suppose I should thank them for their bumper crop this year.
    News this morning says tons of lemons are being transported to Germany. A secret lemon weapon against the virus?
    We have decided to squeeze and freeze more juice just in case they know something we don't.
    Have a good day in your garden and woods

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    1. I certainly count Lemons amongst my 'miracle foods', along with garlic, dark green leafy vegs, and red wine.

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  3. Trees growing in energy fields are especially beneficial and will repay a kindly hug. The oak tree is the home to more insects than any other tree. I was very sad when a 500 year old oak which stood by a stream not far away in the Vienna woods blew down in a big storm. It had a sign on it which said Natur Denkmal which means it was a protected tree and in effect a protected monument.

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    1. Our big Oak is right on the edge of a 6ft high bank, and looks as if it might tumble at any moment. I don't know how old it is, but probably 200 years or so.

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  4. Twelve year old boys. 'Nuff said. I see trees a little differently to other plants. Plants are for us to use. Trees are for us to respect. No, no sense in that at all.

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    1. Out here they're also there for us to heat ourselves with; otherwise I agree with you.

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  5. I don’t think that I would go as far as Coulson but I hate chopping down any tree. We had to remove a very large yew tree in our front garden as it was touching the wall of our house and causing a lot of trouble but I didn’t like doing it. Then we cut down a weeping silver birch and at first I was not happy about it but it was the best thing we could have done although it’s quite sad to get rid of a mature tree. After the great storm of 1987, we were visiting a local horticultural college who were giving out tiny tree seedlings to replace trees that were lost. We planted ours and it’s now at least 150 feet high !!! XXXX

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    1. Poor old Coulson; I expect he's working for the Forestry Commission these days!

      The large estates tend to leave their trees when they die. I'd like to do the same, but without 12,000 acres I don't really have the space.

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    2. I've been known to pat a tree, and am fond of ours, but sometimes they do need to come down. There is a community hall in our area, with a beautiful counter and bar which came from an elm we had cut down in a previous property. I always give the wood a little stroke when I see it.

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    3. Well, at least something good came of it. We have a dead Walnut tree on the property which we are leaving to fall down. No doubt it'll end-up on the fire.

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  6. I'm not too keen on the Poplar trees between our garden and the neighbour's paddock. They are extremely noisy when the wind blows, shed leaves over our lawn in autumn and are home to a bunch of silly, flappy pigeons. I wouldn't shed any tears if they got chopped down.

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    1. If they are tall enough to fall on your roof, I'd have serious words with them (the neighbours, not the Pigeons)!

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  7. Our house is surrounded by trees. The noise during high winds doesn't bother me as I am quite deaf but I love to see them, either bare and leafless in winter or in full, multi-hued shades of green in spring and summer. They also regularly drop a few branches for us -during storms throughout the year - for us to collect as kindling, which is rather generous of them.

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    1. Strong wind always frightens me a bit; not so much the noise, but tiles flying off the roof. We live in a heavily wooded area, so gathering kindling is no problem; I usually return with an armful every morning.

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  8. If only oaks could talk. I hugged a tree for the first time the other day. I can't say it did much but I did become very aware of how rooted it was.

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    1. It does no harm to chat to a tree occasionally. I wonder if they appreciate it?

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  9. I hope that fellow in the top picture isn't doing what I think he's doing. I love trees but not in that way!

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    1. Actually he IS doing what you thought, but I couldn't find another picture.

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  10. I love lemons. I can't think of what else to say having abandoned other words here but suffice it to say I count lemons as a very important part of my life.

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    1. I cannot think of many things that are not improved by the addition of Lemon; both sweet and savoury. There are always several chez Magnon.

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  11. Be careful. There is no evidence that trees can't catch it.

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    1. Don't be daft; take their temperatures, and ask them to cough! As long as they don't show symptoms; keep hugging!

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  12. I've been very attached to a number of trees over the years. Being in a forest or just sitting under a tree is a comfort to me, so I understand your long-ago buddy's sadness.

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    1. If anyone should harm our huge Oak tree, I'd be furious. I'm very much a tree lover.

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  13. My favorite tree is now sick with Black Knot disease. We are trying our best (had different arborist look at it and treat it) but it is probably lost cause. It is a beautiful tree and gave great shade, but this may be in it’s last days. I am hoping it gives us one more summer.

    I cried when my magnificent Willow came down.

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    1. Here, I've lost a Weeping Willow, and two Apple trees to disease. It's heartbreaking.

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  14. I've been partial to a couple of oaks. One my brother planted and babied for a long time. It's still growing in my parents' old home. Something over seventy years old now.

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    1. Our 'Royal Oak' is a magnificent tree. I really don't know how old it is, but I would estimate about 200.

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  15. 'I couldn't live anywhere that had no trees.' I remember saying that once upon a time. It must have been over 45 years ago!

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