Another step in the Hurricane Ida recovery process – trying to help the trees. Spring 2022

This tree has a loaded history. It’s loaded with concrete! This red maple 🍁 tree has had its share of trauma. It is also my favorite tree in the yard. I’ve spent untold hours swinging under this tree. The dogs have chased squirrels up the tree. Rabbits have made their home in the ivy.

When we purchased this property over twenty years ago, it had been the sight of a cane hoist and then a junkyard. I like to joke we have oil on our property; motor oil.

The tree began its life growing in a tire. Don’t all trees in junkyards begin this way? One of the first things my husband did was let the local firemen have a training session in the yard. I’m not sure how it factored in, but all the tires around our trees were removed.

Soon, we found rot in the tree and I was devastated. I didn’t want to lose my tree, so my dear husband did what he always does. He sits and thinks until he figures out a solution. He decided to hollow out the tree and pour concrete into the trunk. The wound eventually healed and this tree has survived over twenty years, growing by leaps and bounds. There is an ivy that is just as old and has been working its way to the top ever since. Every year we talk about cutting the ivy down in the winter when we can see the growth due to the tree being bare of leaves. And, every spring, the leaves start coming in and we say, “Next year”. I’ve lost track of the years. That massive ivy is here to stay as long as we are.

During one hurricane a huge branch fell leaving a gaping hole at the top. It resembled a cheerleader waving pompoms. A couple of years later a small twister took out one of the pompoms. The tree took on an odd look and lost its place as my favorite. I was ready to chop it down, ivy and all. Ida changed all that. She took out the remaining arm and pompom and it is looking like a tree again. Well, almost. It’s still in pretty bad shape but I’m hoping for the best.

Trees sometimes imitate life. They grow. They break. They face harsh times and yet still continue to grow. Today, Red is getting some much-needed care and hopefully, the spring will once again be glorious.

Update: two springs later, both the ivy and tree are flourishing.