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Death of a tree

It was a sad day today to see my splendid conifer tree fall. After the post I did on the heat of summer, it was inevitable that the big conifer on the corner of our plot was not going to survive the summer. I know that this majestic tree is a common site in the northern hemisphere. I have a feeling that the heat here in Philly is too intense. I was also told that they have a life span of 5 years or so. Is this true?

[one_half]Takes years to get to this height[/one_half]

[one_half_last]How quick it is to take something down[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Thats all that is left behind -a stump[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Everything was dry and dead[/one_half_last]

After we had cleared the area of all the dry branches, I watered the patch and immediately I had visitors. The local Butcher Bird family (Fiscal Shrike) came to enjoy the sprinkler. They were having a ball and my mood brightened to know that I can make this area and my new tree stump a real feature to attract the birds and bees! Oh yes…. the bees were also all over this tree. The sap was oozing out and the bees were going mad.

[one_half]Amazing – there were hundreds of bees[/one_half]

[one_half_last]They were dancing and battling with each other[/one_half_last]

Well, the wonders of nature shows me that the death of one majestic tree gives life to so many other creatures.

I will honour this tree by creating a special feature here. Watch this space!

Happy gardening xxx

By Barbara

Country living is the best! Being a true spirit of the earth, my garden is all about vegetables and fruit trees and herbs and chickens roaming free. I was keen to really start gardening when we moved to Philadelphia in 2005, but not your typical suburban-type garden – sterile and bug-free! I wanted an edible garden.

16 replies on “Death of a tree”

Yours looks similar to the one our neighbour took out. I think the heat is just too much for them. Interesting to see the bees at the sap. Ours were in the tarbucket since we have no conifers for them.

Do you have plans for another tree??

Thanks – I don’t feel so bad now! I just read in the latest SA GardenMagazine that is could be conifer aphid! But I’m not so sure!

My plan is to add a rambling rose that will drape around the stump and add gaura and salvia around it to create a feature. I had a great suggestion to add bird feeders….. hmmmm getting better 🙂

Barbie, I think I would cover the stump in uniquely designed bird houses, bird feeders, bee houses, butterfly houses (well, you get the picture).

I am certain your new view will be lovely, whatever you decide to do.

Alan, you are so right! It was not one of the trees I planted, so I inherited it, but it became quite a big tree and a talking point. Sad, but I can move on 🙂
Have tons of ideas and will do a post as soon as I get this corner looking good!

I understand the pain of losing a tree. For some reason, I’d like to say that conifers live longer than 5 years. It may have gotten an infection of some kind. Here in Tucson, it’s too dry but back home when the needles go brown like that, it indicates several things….lack of water, a bug invasion like spider mites, etc. I hope you can find something to replace the tree. It seems like it was a nice screen from the outside world. I’ve had to do that job several times and I don’t think it gets easier cutting a tree down after caring for it many years. However, do enjoy the Shrikes and the bees. That’s actually kind of cool:)

Awe, thanks so much. I am sad to hear that I could have avoided it’s death 🙁
Water was not a problem, so maybe an infestation? Hmmmm…… but it is gone now and I have lots of ideas to pretty up the corner.

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