Our neighbours behind have a tree. It's a large poplar, that looks like a big duster or tickling stick. A strange and unusual tree on a hill populated mostly by ancient oaks and new spruces.
At night the tree sways in the wind, and its leaves rustle and its thin branches brush against each other like people walking down a crowded street. It reflects the light from the nearby street light - causing it to glow an eery orange colour pointing up into the sky towards the stars.
I used to watch this tree before falling to sleep, and it would give me peace. I say "used to", because on Monday night I went to bed and it was gone.
A large stump remained. Solid, unmoving. And I felt an empty hole where that tree once was.
My parents last house in North Carolina was even better for trees, at least until Hurricane Hugo came to town. Our little neighborhood was devastated by Hugo. IIRC, there were something like 150 dump truck loads removed from our 0.5 mile circle ALONE. My heart sank when I saw the yard in the first light. My father said it reminded him of a war zone.
So, I feel your pain. Living in the city the single most thing I miss is having my trees around.
I found the house in a satellite picture. The poplars are gone, but the Cherry tree I watched my Dad plant when I was 4 is visible from space.
Re:Poplars
nicholas on 2003-03-11T11:52:50
the Cherry tree I watched my Dad plant when I was 4 is visible from space.Cool. Do you have a URL for the satellite picture?
Re:Poplars
dws on 2003-03-11T19:36:08
http://terraserver.homeadvisor.msn.com/image.aspx?t=1&s=10&x=3732&y=22849&z=14&w =1The tree is nearly in the center, but you have to know what you're looking for.
