Last week when we had our nice warm up, it got to 50°F! Felt like a heat wave compared to 5°F; I had an unpleasant garden chore to take care of. I needed to cut down my Redbud tree. This tree was given to me by my friend Jane Jollon, back in 2013. The leader had broken so it was growing more like a shrub. I have plenty of room so I took it and grew it out.           Nature always finds a way and eventually a new leader had formed and it shot right up. It was a beautiful tree, bright pink blossoms form on the branches in spring right when my white lilac bloomed. The two of them together were beautiful. 
   After I came home from our trip to Vermont this October, the tree was leaning 45° to the right. I had no idea what had happened. Later, I was told that it had rained all weekend and was very windy. I believe the ground softened with all the rain, it was pouring when we left for our trip and the winds I get here are notorious for causing a lot of damage. The wind knocked over a large maple tree 2 years ago that destroyed my car.

  I was questioning whether or not it was dead and wondered if I had to take it down. Well, mother nature once again made up my mind for me. Another wild weekend of wet weather and high winds blew the tree to the left, this time uprooting it completely and only one large root was holding it to the ground. The trunk had completely snapped. Sad. 

  I am keeping the cut branches to use in Ikebana arrangements. I love the way the branches bend back and forth, creates a beautiful line. And I'll still be able to appreciate my beautiful tree that is no more.