tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post88475230100825135..comments2023-05-02T12:33:58.182+01:00Comments on Perpetually In Transit: Lament for a cherry treePerpetuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-69784969573970829742015-06-27T20:41:23.722+01:002015-06-27T20:41:23.722+01:00It is indeed sad, Annie, especially as this is the...It is indeed sad, Annie, especially as this is the first time we had to make such a hard decision. We've lost a couple of trees before in Wales, but only as the result of storms. This felt very different. We haven't decided yet what to do about a replacement, but will think about it over the summer.<br /><br />We only arrived late last Monday, but already the weather is much better than almost anything we had last year. :)Perpetuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-26050449250108234682015-06-26T21:54:34.184+01:002015-06-26T21:54:34.184+01:00The loss of a tree, even the necessary loss, is al...The loss of a tree, even the necessary loss, is always rather sad isn't it. Will you plant another in its place?<br /><br />Here's hoping you are having a great French summer :)Annie Cholewahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17608057589525908147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-62843786410746076102015-06-21T18:51:53.521+01:002015-06-21T18:51:53.521+01:00Thanks, Rian. I'm glad you like the house. We ...Thanks, Rian. I'm glad you like the house. We think it's rather sweet ourselves. :-) I'm really looking forward to getting back there tomorrow night, The tree against the house wall is a pear tree which has been trained to grow flat against the wall. It's getting old now and the pears take a long time to ripen. Yes, it's a great pity such a magnificent tree has t be felled, but the risk of leaving it was too great.Perpetuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-86355477890665646942015-06-21T18:31:11.234+01:002015-06-21T18:31:11.234+01:00Love the pics, Perpetua... especially the house on...Love the pics, Perpetua... especially the house one! It really is cute (and I went back and reread the house-hunting in Normandy post). What kind of tree is that one that looks like its growing flat against the brick? And I'm really sorry about your Cherry tree...Rianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09472421271620543536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-86609960419043509252015-06-20T09:52:21.336+01:002015-06-20T09:52:21.336+01:00I'm doing so already, Helen, and wondering why...I'm doing so already, Helen, and wondering why it is that the most handsome tree was the doomed one...Perpetuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-52249599344107404642015-06-20T02:25:22.870+01:002015-06-20T02:25:22.870+01:00You'll mourn that tree...and rightly.You'll mourn that tree...and rightly.<br /><br />Helen Devriesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-20136488114708700852015-06-18T21:02:45.411+01:002015-06-18T21:02:45.411+01:00I'm glad you enjoyed it, Debra. We had a lot o...I'm glad you enjoyed it, Debra. We had a lot of fun finding the house and are still having fun restoring it after 12 years. Whether we will ever finish it to our satisfaction remains to be seen. :( Although we are very sad that the cherry tree has had to be felled, we have to be thankful that we noticed the crack before the worst happened and one of the huge branches tore loose in a gale. But we will definitely miss the cherries and the shade. :(<br />I can promise you plenty of photos once we have unpacked and settled in...Perpetuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-43443043675104562952015-06-18T06:53:38.268+01:002015-06-18T06:53:38.268+01:00I really enjoyed learning more about how it is you...I really enjoyed learning more about how it is you purchased your home in France! What an exciting time that must have been to find a house that suited you. The circumstances leading to the need to take out the tree is quite fascinating. I've never seen a split like that in a fruit tree. I know you'll definitely miss that marvelous cherry! I know you're going to have a wonderful summer. Be sure to take lots of photos and share them with us! Enjoy! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-6071449364617227582015-06-16T14:31:57.143+01:002015-06-16T14:31:57.143+01:00Yes, it's a great shame, Susan, but I don'...Yes, it's a great shame, Susan, but I don't think we had any choice. The front of the house will certainly be a lot warmer and brighter without it, probably warmer than I would want upstairs. :) I had to google gleditsia to see what you had lost. Such a pity to lose such a pretty tree, but winter sun is always welcome.Perpetuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-92101180163984684212015-06-16T09:28:12.438+01:002015-06-16T09:28:12.438+01:00What a shame having to fell such a wonderful tree....What a shame having to fell such a wonderful tree. I was sad when I recently had my gleditsia felled but like the extra sun I am getting in these colder days. Whether I will feel the same in the summer heat I am not so sure.Susan Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14400003572211042194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-37866416507780001082015-06-16T09:16:16.315+01:002015-06-16T09:16:16.315+01:00I know, Ayak You're absolutely right, but I ca...I know, Ayak You're absolutely right, but I can't help being sorry that we had to cut down a tree which gave so much shade and so much fruit. I can quite see why you prefer to have space for vegetables rather than unproductive trees. I would too. We'll have to think what we want to plant in its place.Perpetuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-17135758128770283492015-06-16T04:28:31.191+01:002015-06-16T04:28:31.191+01:00It's sad to lose the tree but would be very wo...It's sad to lose the tree but would be very worrying if it broke and fell while someone was sitting in its shade. We have to remove a couple of trees this year,one apricot and one almond, not because they are dangerous, but because even though they have been there for many years, they produce no fruit at all. They are taking up space that we can use for vegetables. So we need to be practical. Safe journey to France xxAyakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16903896106779269050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-4675793282124814822015-06-15T16:31:39.856+01:002015-06-15T16:31:39.856+01:00You're absolutely right and we must be glad th...You're absolutely right and we must be glad that we spotted the crack before something similar happened to our French cottage. If it hadn't been for the tiny sapling in an odd place we wouldn't have known a thing.Perpetuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-44448586257424438892015-06-15T16:29:31.704+01:002015-06-15T16:29:31.704+01:00It is indeed, Penny, and I appreciate your sympath...It is indeed, Penny, and I appreciate your sympathy as from one tree lover to another. The sad thing is that in all other ways this tree was nowhere near the end of its life, but that widening crack was too dangerous to be ignored.<br /><br />We'd like to plant something else, but will need to finish clearing the site and work out how we're going to protect a young tree from the neighbour's stock which graze our orchard in our absence.Perpetuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-50097975016424503642015-06-15T16:26:03.220+01:002015-06-15T16:26:03.220+01:00Thanks, Jennifer. I can sympathise with your regre...Thanks, Jennifer. I can sympathise with your regret that you will be losing your apple tree possibly sooner rather than later. We do become very attached to such useful and beautiful features in our personal landscape. I think this summer is going to feel very odd without the cherry tree, but we will get used to the gap eventually. Yes, Normandy is very beautiful, and we feel very fortunate to be able to visit each summer.Perpetuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-16107908479385463482015-06-15T10:02:22.691+01:002015-06-15T10:02:22.691+01:00So do I, Christine, even when the tree concerned i...So do I, Christine, even when the tree concerned is nothing to do with me personally. The garden will definitely look gap-toothed when we arrive, as the cherry tree was so dominant from every corner of it, being so much taller than the house, which of course is what made the risk of damage so great. If you manage to get back to France we're only an hour and a half from Caen!Perpetuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-76343916399790513602015-06-15T09:58:06.688+01:002015-06-15T09:58:06.688+01:00Yes, it's very sad, Patricia, especially when ...Yes, it's very sad, Patricia, especially when it would have lived for so many more years if it hadn't been for the threatening crack. The garden will certainly feel very different and I'll have to decide where to site the garden furniture now. I can well imagine you don't want to lose your tall gum tree and its many inhabitants, so I hope you can find a way to keep both it and your house safe.Perpetuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-28771380248335950712015-06-15T09:54:01.623+01:002015-06-15T09:54:01.623+01:00It will be missed very much by both of us, Shirley...It will be missed very much by both of us, Shirley, just as I imagine our neighbours miss seeing it as they pass, because it was so dominant. But you're right of course that the potential for damage was too great and had to be removed. We will have to give thought to a replacement and to how to protect it from our neighbour's young stock which graze our grass in our absence.<br /><br />You describe your childhood Lombardy poplar so clearly that I can see it and imagine your imaginings. :-) The childhood equivalent for me was a magnificent sycamore just down the hill at the back of our cottage which dominated the wide view we had from the kitchen. I can still see it in my mind's eye. <br />Perpetuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-28759455334742957372015-06-15T08:50:29.663+01:002015-06-15T08:50:29.663+01:00it is always a shame to cut down a loved tree, but...it is always a shame to cut down a loved tree, but I drove past a house in Scotland that I know very well last week and it is missing a gable end after a garden tree fell on it. BacktoBodrumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07627125508442009313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-70354901251044818042015-06-15T08:43:41.828+01:002015-06-15T08:43:41.828+01:00Oh, no, that's such a shame, Helva, but someti...Oh, no, that's such a shame, Helva, but sometimes we simply have no choice. Sadly I never saw your ceanothus in bloom, but I can imagine it leaves a big gap. It's amazing how these little saplings can grow so big so quickly. But however quickly any replacement we plant may grow, DH and I will never see it reach anything like maturity.<br />Yes, the other trees give fruit too, but their cherries are red and very much smaller and come somewhat earlier than the coeur de pigeon which fruited in mid-July. It was nice to have a succession of fruit.<br />Thanks for the impressive good wishes in French. Today we start packing... xxxPerpetuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-16468428005712576082015-06-15T08:16:22.512+01:002015-06-15T08:16:22.512+01:00Thanks, Kathy, much appreciated. As you know DH an...Thanks, Kathy, much appreciated. As you know DH and I were deeply attached to the big ash-tree at our old house and felt very much the same about this magnificent cherry tree. It looked so strong that it was a shock to find that weakness and realise the threat it posed. I will miss everything about it - appearance, shade and those delicious cherries which had to be eaten straight from the tree as they wouldn't keep. The only upside I can see is that there will no longer be lots of rotting cherries in the grass attracting flies and wasps, but that was a price we were always happy to pay to have it. I hope your tangerine tree will continue to thrive and give lots of fruit.Perpetuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-81483532592424198642015-06-15T08:07:43.585+01:002015-06-15T08:07:43.585+01:00Thanks, Sally. I'm glad you enjoyed it. As a g...Thanks, Sally. I'm glad you enjoyed it. As a great lover of trees I felt the passing of such a fine tree deserved to be marked and i shall really miss it. Our French cottage is quite small and simple and we're still working on it after 12 years!Perpetuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-81759068912830916382015-06-15T08:05:23.112+01:002015-06-15T08:05:23.112+01:00You're absolutely right, Bonnie, and this is w...You're absolutely right, Bonnie, and this is why we took the decision to have it felled. It towered above the house and one of the three big branches would certainly have landed on the roof if it had fallen. I will now have to think and plan how best to use the space where the tree once stood and at least we have photographs to remind us. Yes, it's a lovely quiet spot.Perpetuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-20134443080727530162015-06-15T07:59:40.940+01:002015-06-15T07:59:40.940+01:00Thanks, Rosemary. It will certainly make a big dif...Thanks, Rosemary. It will certainly make a big difference at first, but I'm sure we will get used to it with time. Unfortunately the other trees are some distance away, and being cider apple trees are unlikely to grow much bigger, so the gap will remain unless we plant something else, which we may well decide to do. The really sad thing is that the cherry tree was strong and healthy, except for the threatening split at the top of the trunk. :-(Perpetuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-32707330570097099712015-06-15T07:56:15.903+01:002015-06-15T07:56:15.903+01:00Thanks for the fellow-feeling, Vic. These great tr...Thanks for the fellow-feeling, Vic. These great trees become part of our home and personal landscape and it's hard to see them disappear. Your beech sounds magnificent, but a hollow tree is very dangerous and it's good it was taken down before something really serious happened. As far as we could tell our cherry tree was sound except for the growing crack at the top of the main trunk which was only about 8 feet tall before it divided into three. Each of those three would have made a tree in itself! DH asked the tree surgeon to leave us the main trunk and he hopes to do something with the wood. My flower border will now be in full sun all day and it will be interesting to see what difference that makes.Perpetuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.com