Trees and Worry

Nothing freshens up the way we look at our environment quite the same way as a change of scene. I jut returned from a few days out of town. One of the first things I noticed upon getting the car out of the garage at the airport was the Bradford Pears. Everywhere! Luckily there were few to none to be seen when I got back here to Shelby. Those are the trees that look great for about 7 to 10 days in the spring, if there's no freeze, and for about 10 days of blazing foliage in October. The rest of the time they are busy splitting and falling apart.

And nothing challenges the way a self avowed tree hugger feels about trees like having a big tree limb fall on a man's car. A few days after the snow and ice, a good sized limb fell from the top of a Live Oak and scratched up the back of my car. No structural damage, thankfully, but it will require some paint and work. Now, having a limb fall out still doesn't put the Live Oaks in the same category as Bradford Pears in my eyes.

Live Oaks generally look great year round. But what this proved to me is that what looks like green and healthy tree branches can actually be dead and dried up limbs and leaves. We have a serious challenge in Uptown after years of drought, and we may see more of our beautiful and valued trees fall in the next couple of years as a result of the stress.

I hope that is not sounding too alarmist to anyone reading this, but I do think we need to start directing a lot of concern toward the health of trees and shrubs in our midst. They aren't frills. They keep heating and cooling bills down, keep the sidewalks shady enough for children and elderly alike to enjoy, and they sometimes hide a mess of sins like an overdue paint job on second story window frames.

Start thinking about the street side trees in Shelby and what is important to you about them. And if you are ever in a position to plant a new tree, whether at a school, church or in Uptown Shelby, remember it needs care and water to grow into a glorious asset for everyone to enjoy!