Gather to save the Willow Tree

[gregnadeau.livejournal.com]

Noon Sunday, under the tree.

Comments

[ron_newman]

Is that when the landscaping crew is supposed to return? Please say a little more.

[pierceheart.livejournal.com]

Dude, the property owner already gave the reason for cutting the tree down - are you going to pay the bills when parts of the tree come down and damage neighboring cars and fences and pull down electric wires?

Also, are you and the busybodies who stopped it the first time going to pay for the contracting company to come out the second time?

[infinitemorning.livejournal.com]

This. It's really pretty clear that the tree has to go. Now, if you want to put in some kind of effort to try and transplant it elsewhere -- if that's even possible -- that's one thing. But this is frankly getting ridiculous. I know it's part of local history, I know it's important to a lot of people, but it's damaging the buildings and infrastructure around it.

[ron_newman]

For those tuning in late, pierceheart is referring specfically to this letter from the property owner, Joe Benoit.

[pierceheart.livejournal.com]

Transplant of a tree that big is impossible.

I love the tree huggers out there (not pointing at you infintiemorning) who don't know jack about how trees grow, and the conditions under which certain types of trees grow best.

[rufinia.livejournal.com]

Take some clippings, plant it elsewhere. Even many elsewheres. The tree can live on.

[pierceheart.livejournal.com]

but not in a city area.

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

If you can grow a willow from clippings (I know nothing about cultivation of willows), and if some good, safe places can be found to plant them, that is an excellent idea.

[ron_newman]

Maybe in Nathan Tufts (Powder House) park? It's big enough that there might be a place where such a tree would not damage adjoining residential properties. Obviously you'll need to cooperate with the city parks department on this. (Hello, Somerville Garden Club?)

Another possible location could be the new parkland that Federal Realty and IKEA are creating at the Mystic River. Or the new Somerville Junction Park at Centre and Woodbine streets.

[firepail.livejournal.com]

and not near a house.

[richips.livejournal.com]

I need a crew in white dresses to come with me.

also, i call the oven, because of Sylvia.

[firepail.livejournal.com]

Exactly. Give it up, the tree must come down. What is it with all the tree-huggers living in an urban area?

[richips.livejournal.com]

Or transplant it to the Boston Public Gardens, with the other willows?

or knock down one of the hideous, superfluous commercial buildings that are taking over the world, put in a nice park, and put the tree there?

that would be really great.

[jbsegal.livejournal.com]

One can like trees AND cities at the same time. It's really not that hard.

[pierceheart.livejournal.com]

I don't mind tree-huggers, it's just the ones who are ignorant of how trees grow who piss me off.

[ron_newman]

I agree -- it's one reason I prefer Boston to Manhattan, where all the trees are in Central Park and very few are on ordinary streets.

[gwodder.livejournal.com]

Death is part of life.

Even the magnificent live. Death is part of their magnificence.

Love that friends and neighbors feel for one who goes to die is not rendered meaningless by the death of the one they love.

We are alive. Death is part of us. If we really care, we do not gather around the death-bed of one we love to fight death but to witness it, and to celebrate a life, which we must have always known would come to an end.


thanks

[icecreamempress.livejournal.com]

Having arborists cultivate shoots from this tree to populate the new park at the Mystic River is a lovely idea; I would be delighted to contribute to a fund for doing that.

[firepail.livejournal.com]

That's what I meant. I don't see why the tree issue persists when this particular tree is not suited for the area. It's sad to see an old tree go, but it is a hazard--and the encouraging of people to randomly plant pieces of it in their yard or wherever is infuriating as we've discussed to death why this type of tree should not be planted in the city.

[firepail.livejournal.com]

True, and hey, I like trees and was annoyed when the one in front of my apartment was removed--but the uninformed intervening/blind eye to the hazards of this tree is irresponsible.

[richips.livejournal.com]

Have you ever read the book The Virgin Suicides, or seen the movie based on it?

[genesayssitdown.livejournal.com]

if you like that tree so much why don't you marry it

[richips.livejournal.com]

I will, thanks.

[truered.livejournal.com]

I'm as heartbroken as anyone to see this tree go, but I understand for the safety of everyone that it must happen.

I would encourage all of you to go on Sunday not to fight to save this tree, but to view it one last time, take your camera, and give it a peaceful and gracious farewell.

[agnosticoracle.livejournal.com]

I'm going to miss the tree. It was cool, it looked like it could eat people!