I planted these the first year at 1880 after a liquid amber fell over in the first rain storm. I chose them for their beautiful white bark.

The city approved my choice since the little one in front was actually classified as a “city tree.” I am thinking no one knew about the bronze birch borers in 1998. Since then, that pest has destroyed many of the birches in town. I had mine treated, alas, to no avail, and they had to come down this week.

In half an hour, they were gone and had been fed into this gloppita gloppita machine, which digested even the 14-inch trunk with out clearing it’s throat.

Now, we are a bit bereft, remembering how, over the years, the birches were decorated for the winter holidays in various ways.

My original thought was to transplant a redwood immediately into this spot. Now, I have come to my senses, realizing that right before summer is not the time to do this. I will live with the nakedness until next fall.