Saturday, June 6, 2009

A Green Ash Tree for La Belette Rouge




This is the largest green ash tree in the Salt Lake Valley according to the experts at Arbor Care. It grows in my backyard. When I was a child I had the world's best rope and wood slat swing that hung from an enormous branch that is now a phantom limb. Green ash trees fell prey to a borer and few survived. We aggressively treated this tree. It survived and still grows at an almost alarming rate. It is a very heavy wood and in a big wind storm it self prunes. Several years ago a smallish branch came down breaking several of the tiles on the roof of the main house. There is no way to really give you an idea how large this tree is, but the tall two storied house is a toy beneath it.

10 comments:

Fran said...

That is one mighty tree!

Hard to capture their magnificent size & glory in a picture, but you did a good job.

Laura said...

Beautiful!
On the farm that I grew up on there was a beautiful old weeping Willow. I'm not a big outdoors person but I did spend many an hour underneath that tree.
((Hugs))
Laura

themom said...

WOW...a branch falling from that behemoth, could be catastrophic. Replacing those tiles would be an expense also. But the beauty of the tree stands forth. It is beautiful. I have Maple and pines - all huge in my backyard. They self prune regularly too. I need to have them topped out, but again, a nasty expense.

Gail said...

Oh I love how nature surrounds with all it's strength, flexibility, and purpose.
I see this beautiful strong tree, still standing tall - providing much wisdom and determination, having survived many storms, from it's roots to it's leaves, somewhat of a metaphor for you.

love gail
peace.....

Sherry Pasquarello said...

that is breathtaking!

i love the house too.

susan said...

It's a beauty and seeing it in parts next to the sky and the house only make it that much more impressive.

My favorite trees (that don't seem to grow out here) are copper beech. I've seen them next to mansions in new England taking up the same space as the houses whose grounds they adorn.

Thorne said...

That is so awesome! Is that first shot straight up through the boughs?? What a magical view. You must have a small platform lodged there in the branches from which you might lie and gaze up at the stars.

La Belette Rouge said...

Oh, you just don't know how much I needed this tree. This is so amazing to get the gift of what I love most.
This tree is awesome in the real sense of the word.

I love imagining you swinging with joy from this beautiful tree.

Thank you, dear Utah, for this gift that so deeply fills the longing of my heart. You are a dear friend.
xoxo

Wait. What? said...

When I was little I had a favorite tree, I seem to have found one everywhere I have lived in my life... even after I gave up climbing and swinging in the...

This is a glorious tree.

Unknown said...

Aww, what a great story-- I am glad to hear the tree is doing well.

For the 37th Edition of the Festival of the Trees blog carnival we tried to focus on links about Survivor Trees. Your tree was perfect for the theme!