I'm a tree killer and I'm OK with that.

If you've been following my blog, you know I've been campaigning to lose this tree for a long time.  I first wrote about it last February in an impassioned plea to my husband entitled 'Confessions of a Sustainable Gardener'. 

Hooray! It has finally happened.  The tree was removed during the chinook a week or so ago, and the stump will come out in spring.  (There's no taking-down-0f-trees that's going to happen around my house in spring/summer/fall for fear of smashing the garden!)

I found a company who would do it for much less than the original $1000 estimate I got and they did a great job.  I still feel a little guilty for spending so much on taking down a tree when that money could have been easily spent on a more environmental project such as replacing a drafty window or a fun thing like taking the family on a little trip, but... not that guilty!  The tree was in a stupid spot, too close to the house and too close to other trees.  I'd already cut off all the lower branches to get some light into the house and improve the view from that bay window, but it was still UGLY.  And I still have 4 50-year-old spruce trees in the front yard and 5 in the back so I can still comfortably call myself a tree-hugger. 

Here's the view from the street now - you can actually see the front door and part of the window from the street!

The only problem now is that I've been blaming that tree for the fact that plants in my Front Entry Garden and Front Shade Garden do not grow very well, due to the huge uptake of water and nutrients from the spruce tree roots.  This year there will be no excuses...  Those gardens had better look good this year or I will eat spruce tree needles!

Comments

[JP]

looks great! And I bet your garden will improve there, just because you'll be admiring it every time you walk in the house...

[Christine B.]

Spruce planted way too close to the house is endemic here in Alaska. I've often considered doing a photo post about the older houses here that almost always seem to have giant trees (but they were cute little 3 footers at planting, I'm sure) blocking the front door or walkway. Good for you for getting rid of it! I'm sure you are enjoying all that precious light that can come in now through your window.

Christine in Alaska

[The Ms. S.]

Yay!!! Now, come summer you will have to post the views from the inside looking out. I'm guessing they will be much nicer!

We did this at our last house and it brightened things up so much we starting using that room more because it now had a view.

Congrats!

[Janice Miller-Young]

Thanks for your support Christine!  I too, could walk around my neighbourhood and take many, many pictures of large trees that were planted in the wrong spot!  My sister-in-law just commented to me that forests of trees must tremble in fear when I walk through them, but the forests dont have to worry - they werent planted too close to my house 50 years ago!

[Janice Miller-Young]

Thanks JP.  It had better improve, cause my husband isnt going to let me take down another tree!
J