Save A Tree

Thursday, September 11, 2008 by karen.

 We have trees.  Our neighbors have trees.  Trees are a grand thing!  They block our noise, sun and hide us from the neighbors.  Unfortunately, the only trees we have are citrus and palm.  These type of trees are beautiful and functional, but they do not provide as much shade as we would like. 

 Our neighbors to the west of us, who our neighbors are probably the best anyone could have living in disturbia, have a beautiful backyard that once had plush grass and is larger than ours.  They tore up the grass and installed desert landscaping leaving the trees.  One must understand having grass in the desert is a lot of work and even more work in disturbia when it must be manicured to appease the HOA and neighbors.    We are limited on owning equipment to maintain a yard due to space.  This causes many to hire landscapers or illegals to do the job for them.    I find it can be a could workout so we do most trimming ourselves.  Even when doing the work yourself, you have the issue of removing the excess.  Having only one large dumpster-like can to put it in can be a problem so having someone else do it and take it away is sometimes easier but can get expensive.  How do some afford a weekly landscaper?

One evening while Dana was polishing the Harley, our neighbor mentioned above, was outside and asked about her tree.  She was inquiring if her beautiful Mesquite tree bothered us.  I responded with an ecstatic ‘no’ stating I loved it.  It provides an excellent source of shade to our backyard in the late afternoons.  I explained it to her and she also commented on how it was growing over our FENCE.  I chuckled.  Do I look like a neighbor who cares if your wonderful shade is growing over my fence? I understand she is only doing her neighborly duty to ask, and I do appreciate it.  She even went on to say they were considering removing the tree to keep us happy.   I really got excited and pleaded her to NOT remove it.  We really do enjoy the tree and if they need assistance with the care of the tree, I would gladly help.  Maybe I should have mentioned, they are up in years and both work full time.  I also told her that when the branches got to be a nuisance  on my side, I simply clipped them and disposed of them properly.  Doing this sort of thing can be a huge no-no in disturbia.  The tree remains.

 A few nights later, we are at the local bar CK’s (again) and run into her son.  After a few drinks, he unpredictably turns to me and asks if their tree bothers us.  *sighs*  Wow!  I didn’t leave disturbia for a few hours to discuss your freaking tree! 

I LOVE THAT TREE.  

He too will make a fantastic neighbor someday!  His parents should be proud he is expresses such consideration. 

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