My house was built in 1910 and around that same time, trees were planted so that the street would be lined with the most beautiful shade producing trees of all varieties. Sadly, all of these trees are nearing the end of their life and one by one, they are having to be taken down when they start to become dangerous. But living in the City of Roanoke has one more great benefit in that you can have two trees planted in front of your home on the right of way between the street and the sidewalk. This reforestation project will ensure that Roanoke remains a green city and will have avenues planted with trees that make for a beautiful streetscape.

So today was a sad day in front of my house as it was the day the city came to take down one of the last of three remaining original trees on this block. Deadwood pruning had extended the tree’s life for a while, but this year it started to drop limbs the size of large trees with one crashing down on a car parked in front during a spring windstorm. So it was time for the tree to go and late this morning came a knock on the door by the Grim Tree Reaper.

So as things progressed, I took a few shots to remember the last few minutes of the life of a tree that had served many, many generations that have come and gone on this block.

The guys who took care of things were nice enough to oblige my request for a slice of the trunk that I am going to turn into a coffee table for one of the porch chair groupings. That’ll be a pretty cool memorial and proof that trees provide a lasting benefit to everyone. Take care of your trees, they don’t grow overnight and you sure do miss them when they have to go.