This was the Cake Tree a month ago when we had snow. The children called this tree, the Cake Tree, because when Rob put lights around it at Christmas time, or to help light the garden whenever we have a summer party, it looks a bit like a cake.
Unfortunately, the tree is very close to a neighbour's wall and over the years, the back has been trimmed repeatedly so that it didn't overhand her driveway. Subsequently, the tree was heavier at the front than the back and a nasty crack appeared in the wall. We came to the conclusion that the Cake Tree had to come down.
This was the Cake Tree on Thursday. Now, instead of all that green fir, we have a large gap where it used to stand and our tree has been replaced by a huge pile of logs for the fire and mulch for the garden, which I'm supposed to be helping distribute to the flowerbeds right now...
The youngsters are sad, as am I, but Rob and I have bought a new tree to replace the old one. Sadly, the new tree is not much more than a 10 foot stick with a few spindly branches. I'm told it'll grow quickly. Here's hoping...
27 comments:
We've taken down a beautiful blue cedar and a mature sycamore since we came here, and a stunning willow went from across the road - it used to be central to the view from my desk. All had to go for similar reasons, and I was similarly sad. But it's all part of the cycle of life I guess.
What a shame. I guess it gave you some fun while it lasted. I have a clematis that grows up the fence adjoining nutty neighbour who always pushes it back over to our side so it looks taty and brown! I guess you made the right decision. :O)
It's a shame to lose such a feature in your garden but from the photo it did look like an accident waiting to happen with all the weight on one side.
So sorry you lost your tree. But it sounds like the new tree will someday replace the old, and maybe it will be less dangerous. Still, I know it's like losing an old friend.
Sorry you had to lose your tree, Debs. From the picture, it was very pretty. I'm sure your new one will be beautiful in no time. =o)
verification word: foresti
Coincidence? I think not.
So sad to lose mature landscape plantings, especially trees. Doesn't matter if they've forgotten their manners and are growing out of bounds! Most can't affort to replace with a tree that's going to be any size in the next ten years. Rob must be a serious gardener to be threatening you with mulching chores this eary in the season, Debs!
Oops! Make that "afford" and "early". Does anyone know how to spell-check comments? I need directions! :-)
Sorry about the cake tree, Debs, but I'm so happy you have another one on the way :)
Oh dear, that's such a pity. Hope the new one grows quickly.
XX
I love the name: the Cake Tree. What a story you could create around it!
So sorry you had to take it down. It was a gorgeous tree.
That was a huge cake tree! Sorry that it had to go. I have a tree which I call my Christmas tree!It is actually called the ardesia elliptica and it has the shape of a fir tree. I grew it for its berries for the birds.
What a pity! Beautiful tree it was.
Greetings from London.
That is a great name for a novel, Debs..... And a great premise for one too....
Awww, isn't it a shame when we have to cut our trees, or trim them. We did this to one of ours last year. It was overhanging quite dangerously and as we have holiday cottages on the farm land, we couldn't take the risk.
CJ xx
How sad for you all - I hope the new tree brings lots of happy memories in the future.
Queenie - I agree, it's horrible when these trees come down. It looks so bare without them.
madeleine - I'll have to grow some clematis up the wall too. This particular neighbour is a bit of a pain too.
troy - it was, and a crack appeared in the adjoining wall, so we really had no choice but to bring the tree down.
kaye - we've replaced it with another tree and a few bushes, which will hopefully grow very soon :)
b.e. sanderson - that is a coincidence. Love it.
faye - Rob loves his garden and we both enjoy gardening. I tend to tire far quicker than him and do far less work.
gran - thanks, and thank you for linking to my blog through your own one. x
suzanne - me too.
melissa - I hadn't thought of that.
The children are so unimpressed that it's come down, but it had to happen at some point, unfortunately.
keats the sunshine girl - your Christmas tree sounds beautiful. I love trees with berries, so colourful.
a cuban in london - it is a pity.
Greetings from not so sunny Jersey :)
flowerpot - thanks. I'll have to get my thinking cap on.
crystal jigsaw - what a shame. It's horrible when we have to take down trees that are such a focal point.
chris - I'm sure it will. Thank you.x
I love the idea of a cake tree! So sad when they have to come down.
We had to get rid of one in our front garden as there was a real worry it would come crashing through the roof one day, but we kept part of the ivy-covered stump and the birds use it for feeding.
I likey the sound of a cake tree very much indeedy :) TFxx
karen - we had to get rid of two firs in the back garden as they were leaning over into the next door field and I kept about a two foot stump from one and the other was about six feet high. One is covered with ivy and the taller one is covered with clematis and looks glorious when it's flowering.
tf - it was so pretty and will be sorely missed.
So sorry to hear about the Cake Tree. It looked lovely.
I hope your new tree soon makes up for the loss - and grows quickly.
shirley - thank you. It was especially lovely at Christmas.
Hopefully the new one will have a growing spurt and soon fill the big gap.
It's so sad when trees have to go - we had to cut down two holly trees and I don't like looking at the gap where they were,
We're still looking at huge gaps in our hedge after getting the sewer sorted in 2009. I so hope your new tree explodes, so sorry the Cake Tree had to go!
Oh no... bye bye Cake Tree! :( Hope your nes tree fares well!
phillipa - It's ghastly looking at a gap where something to beautiful used to be.
anna - me too. The sooner it grows the better.
talli - me too. :)
Never mind, you had no choice, Hope the new tree grows quickly and will be loved as much.
cait - thank you, I hope so too. I'm getting used to the new ones, tiny though they are.
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