When we first moved to this house, there were several large, leafy trees in our yard.  A huge old elm tree was in the front yard where our younger son built a tree house.  There was another medium size maple that our daughter liked to climb.  In the back yard was a big maple tree and a tall tulip poplar. In our side yard was a medium size maple tree. There were also several red bud trees.  So many that every year I pull up dozens of new red buds.    Through the thirty-seven years we have lived here, the maple  has tripled in height and has taken over the whole side yard.  When I wash dishes, I like to look at that tree where birds nest.  In the Autumn it is especially beautiful with is bright orange-red leaves.

Through the years we have had to cut down most of the large trees because of safety or because we wanted a garden and the lawn was too shady.  This Autumn the old maple in the side yard is going to be cut down.  I hate to see trees cut down.  It takes so many years for a tree to get so big and I know with any tree we plant now, I won’t see it grow into its full majesty.  But this particular tree has become a hazard to our house.  We have cut it back several times from the house, but now it poses a danger because it is losing branches and David is afraid one good storm and we would have the tree on our house.  I talked to a tree man this week.  In two or three weeks they will come  with their saws and they will cut down the beautiful maple and I will feel sadness in my heart.

We have always planted two or three trees to replace any tree we have cut down. We try to plant trees that won’t get so big and become a danger to the house.  I will plant two or three trees in our side yard next Spring.  I want trees that will be bright and colorful in the Fall.  I am thinking Japanese Maples because they don’t get too tall and come in many colors. I want trees that I don’t have to rake bushels of leaves every Autumn.

Maples are so beautiful, but cause a lot of work.

I am taking lots of pictures because the Maple is especially beautiful this year.  Maybe it knows this is its last grand showing.

I think that I shall never see

A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest

Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,

And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in Summer wear

A nest of robins in her hair.

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;

Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,

But only God can make a tree.

Joyce Kilmer(1914)

Here is what meets me every time I go outside.

 

Oh, the excitement when anyone comes out to feed them, play with them or walk them.  I don’t walk Bonnie anymore as she can’t go very far and besides, I can’t get her past the cars because she loves car rides.

If they aren’t peeking in the back door they are doing this…

 

Total relaxation.  Molly is getting big.  She gained ten pounds in the last month.  She will weigh eighty to one hundred pounds when she is grown.  She is learning to walk well with me although we are still working on the nipping at the heels.

Hope you are enjoying this beautiful Autumn weather and all the beautiful trees.  Bye.