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Good-bye Tree

jacaranda_med.jpg (180×180)The Jacaranda trees are blooming early this year.  It was a warmer than usual winter here in Florida as well as other parts of of the country.  A Jacaranda in full bloom is a lovely sight, but some trees are more lovely when they are not on your property.

There was a very large Jacaranda tree in our yard.  When we arrived in December, we met our neighbors on the other side of that tree.  They had already trimmed a lot of branches off, which needed to be done, but they asked if we would be willing to just take it down completely.  They really hated that tree!

I was quite hesitant at first, but over the next couple of months I could see that it was a nuisance for them.  Black seeds covered their car port, roof, and rain gutters.  Little trees took root in their completely clogged gutters.  Then long spiky things started falling off the tree and covering the lawn--a walking hazard if wearing, as one typically does here, sandals or flip flops.  The tree was situated in a place where we had to make an effort to see it.  We agreed to have the tree removed just before it started to bloom.

The guy they had come do the work had it down and cleaned up in no time so I hired him to come back and take care of the thorny bougainvillea and also prune the grapefruit tree.

So we lost a tree in our yard, but we made the neighbors happy.  Life is a balancing act.

Comments

  1. Some trees don't make good "pets." They have bad manners and behave poorly. It's better to have good neighbors.

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  2. That's the truth!!!! Balance.
    Greetings from Cottage Country!

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  3. True. Sometimes, a tree just has to come out. It sounds like you made a good choice.

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  4. Plant a plumaria (frangipani) because those do not get so tall and they really smell lovely when they bloom.

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  5. Some other kind of tree will be better . . . if any at all. I suppose the shade of a tree would be welcome . . . but you aren't there when it's terribly hot are you?
    Such is my nature that my near-to-first-thought was: Now the neighbors owe you! ;-p

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  6. Goodness what a good neighbor you are. I have heard of ugly neighbor wars over much less. June is right, they owe you.

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  7. Trees like that belong in parks for all to enjoy, not in neighborhoods to frustrate neighbors. Good decision!!

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  8. The city that my daughter lives in here in southern California is lined with Jacarandas. The city put them in. They are pretty but the flowers get in the gutter and then get wet and the smell is not good! About 4 years ago the city had to remove the one in front of their house because the roots had gotten in the pipes. In their wisdom they replace it with a new small Jacaranda! The kids were nt amused.

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  9. It's always sad when you have to cut down a tree ... but sometimes it has to be done. As others have noted, you're a good neighbor!

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  10. As much as I hate to see a tree taken down, I agree that you made the right choice. There are a few trees that I wouldn't be able to tolerate in my yard, either, like sweet gum. Pretty trees, but horrible spiky balls.

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  11. What a good neighbor you are, Olga! When are you heading back North?

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