A Tribute to a Tree - Part 2

First Post of the Day

My children love Morainewood, my childhood home on the Wabash. They have so many memories wrapped up there, visiting Apple Jack and Granny Slash, the big swing tucked back in the woods that Apple Jack hung from an ancient tree, sledding down the moraine, poking around on the shores of the Wabash, and more.

So, it's not really a surprise that Lisa drops by the property every now and then. She likes to walk around and spend some quiet time with her memories.

The witness tree, that venerable old oak, came crashing down during some high winds earlier this summer and Lisa took some photos for me when she last visited.

It smashed into the trees ringing the clearing 

and did a lot of damage to them.

The damage from the fungus was evident at its roots - see that hole where the fungus has been eating inside the tree?

The root system that came out of the ground was taller than Lisa (she's 5'8".) Massive roots for a massive and very old tree.

A second tree nearby also sustained damage from those winds.

Part of its top split off and toppled down next to the old oak.

When we lived in the house, it was a constant worry that "some day" the oak would come down and maybe even hit the house. It did once lose a large branch that came through the roof over the living room, but that was the only incident in the 50 years that Morainewood was our family home.

There is no longer a home for the tree to land on

and the giant oak is now resting on the ground. 

Since the land is being returned to nature, I hope the tree is left where it is lying so it can complete its life cycle in the way in which nature intends it to do.

Stay 'tooned.