Fortunately today was sunny and dry, albeit rather chilly. Had it rained all day as it did yesterday I would not have been able to photograph the workers from Arbor-Venture Tree Care taking down
our ailing and brittle cypress tree photographed by Jackie 5 days ago.
Four men comprised the team of tree surgeons. One climbed into the branches while another remained beneath him, partly, I imagine, for security, and
especially to receive severed limbs as they were lowered.
Others reduced the limbs underneath the cypress,
carried them along the garden to the back drive, and fed them to a chipper which spewed them into a purpose-built truck.
Even early on in the process the fearless chain-saw wielder up aloft demonstrated his awareness of which branches he could safely walk along.
Sometimes he didn’t have much to stand on at all,
although he was well harnessed,
and belted with equipment.
All the men wore masks as protection from flying wood chips.
Gradually, continuing to display enviable flexibility, the lumberjack worked his way along the main branches,
eventually, pausing for final height direction from the Head Gardener,
completing the framework for next year’s scented climbing plants.
This evening we dined on Jackie’s piri-piri lemon chicken: roast potatoes, including the sweet variety, and parsnips; with bright green broccoli and Brussel’s sprouts, and crunchy orange carrots, with which she drank Hoegaarden and I drank Calvet Prestige Bordeaux 2017.
Wow, that is a pretty serious job Derrick, great photos! That fellow is nimble, brave and careful – leaving a perfectly shaped climbing frame for our future delight. Did it take them all day to get that amazing outcome?
Less than three hours! Thanks very much, Pauline.
Calls for some cutting remarks, the first of which is that I find it downright criminal to do that to such a lovely tree. Other solutions could have been found for the colour.
I am amused at how totally the tree feller is camouflaged in that one shot.
I never saw that coming, Leslie. Thanks for it.
I was sad when some of our trees had to be cut down because they were dying. It’s good to have people who know what they’re doing, and you did a great job of documenting the process. What plans does the Head Gardener have for the spot?
Many thanks, Merril. Scented climbing roses and a clematis with which to drape the frame that has been left.
I understand that it was the time for this tree to go, Derrick, but I still feel sad.
Me too, Dolly. I hate to lose a tree. Thanks very much.
These are familiar scenes as most years we have a chainsaw massacre where our gardeners chop down ailing trees or those that look as if they might topple over. The limbs are fed into a hopper and the trunks chopped up for firewood. Of course, there’s also regular pruning of the olive trees, of which there are many.
Thank you very much, Sheree. That could be a good project for your photography
I hadn’t thought of that, thanks Derrick.
Oh how I remember when I was young and did a similar job, but on my own with a hand saw. I only used the chainsaw when I was on the ground. It took about two weeks to do what your boys did in a day. After I sold the place the new owner brought in contractors who leveled about five 150 year old cypress trees in a day. Then they piled them up and burnt them. Los Bastardos.
That was quite an achievement, Paol. In fact our men did the job in about 3 hours – but there were 4 of them and they had all the equipment. Thanks very much.
Nice documentation, Derrick. My fear of heights caused my hands to sweat while viewing the photos.
And I had to watch him to get the pictures 🙂 Thanks very much, Jill.
Reminded me of when we needed to remove trees for our new extensions. I felt so guilty until we were told that the trees were diseased and would eventually need to be removed anyway.
I still feel a bit guilty 🙂 Thanks very much, Sue.
Arbolistic ballet!
Good phrase, Cindy. Thanks very much.
These are skilled men.
They certainly are, Tootlepedal. Thanks very much.
Quite an undertaking! You need to know what you’re doing.
Absolutely. And they did. Thanks very much, Liz.
Great pleasure can be taken from watching people do something, skillfully, that you couldn’t possibly do half as well yourself.
I couldn’t even get up there, Mike. Many thanks.
Neither could I Derrick. Had a narrow escape with a chainsaw once!
What a pity you had to lose your cypress tree! Quite a dangerous operation. For experts only.
Yes, it was a great pity, and no way would I ever tackle the task. Thanks very much Rosaliene.
It is painfull to see when tree are taken away like this. Once we had to let go away our dear mulberry tree at my parents house. I still miss that spot.
Thank you very much, Dee. It will make a good frame for scented roses.
👍👍
It must have been hard to watch the old tree go a piece at a time, a beautiful specimen in its youth.
It was, indeed, Lavinia. Thanks very much.
Trees take such a long time to grow and then to grow old, to wither and to die. It is unfortunate that in our closely packed urban environments we are unable to allow them to do that. We too had to have an old, ailing, cypress tree removed as it had spread too close to the house and was becoming a fire hazard. While the process of felling the tree was painful to both watch and hear, I had a morbid fascination with the confident skill of those who were felling the tree. I have planted a row of Spekboom in honour of the tree’s demise and the plants are thriving in the sunshine.
I’m pleased that you have identified with the process, Anne. Thank you very much.
How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places.
I appreciate the finesse and patience of the tree surgeons, and the chronicler of the fall as well.
Thanks very much, Uma.
I appreciate the finesse and patience, too. What a set of skills and collection of equipment they needed, huh?
What a insight to the world arborist and the cycle of tress. Thank you for sharing
Thanks very much, msw.
it’s hard to witness the death of such a beautiful tree and no longer see it in its daily life
It is, indeed – but it will produce a nice frame for roses and clematis. Thanks very much, Yoshimi.
Your amazing photos captured the work!
I admire anyone who can do tree-work and do it safely and well!
Sad to see any tree go. 🙁 My hugs to your tree. My condolences to you.
(Trees are like family to me.)
So, Jackie will have climbing plants “decorate” the tree trunk?
One time, when I was a little girl, my Dad had to cut down a dying tree. He a left the cut stump-trunk for us little kids to sit on, like a stool. 🙂
Did Nugget do any supervising of the work?!
HUGS!!! 🙂
Thanks very much, Carolyn. Jackie is planning scented climbing roses and a clematis. Nugget kept well out of the way. X
How wonderful! Jackie is not only an amazing gardener, she is so creative and artistic!
Oh, I’m so glad Nugget didn’t get in the way!
They have quite scary skills. We had a larch lopped last year and one of them managed to use a chainsaw while dangling more or less upside down from the top of the trunk. The gentlemen in your garden are every bit as skilful.
Quite so, John. Thanks very much.
The community I live is about 45 years old and some of the mature trees are dying out. So yes, I’ve seen these men at work in the trees and the amazing stump-grinder. Has the Head Gardener decided what she will do with that barren patch of earth?
The trunk as been preserved in place and will be a frame for scented climbing roses. Thanks very much, GP
Wonderful idea!!
That looks a bit scary.
Indeed, Rabirius. Thanks very much.
Sorry for the loss of a big tree. I’m glad you’re repurposing the trunk. I look forward to seeing next year’s tree trellis.
Thank you very much, Cheryl.
Those guys are amazing to watch aren’t they.
Indeed they are, Lindsey. Thanks very much.
Sorry about the loss but glad you found such skilled and patient workmen to do that difficult job. Your photos are wonderful, Derrick.
Thank you very much, Jan.