Timber!!!!!!

Many years ago, after moving in to his newly built house, Robin was looking for a specimen tree to plant in the front garden.  He was rather taken with the Japanese Twisted Conifer, and lovingly tended to the baby tree, watering it carefully, and keeping the surrounding garden free from weeds.  He was so proud of that tree, and when I came on the scene, told me all about his wonderful conifer tree, growing so big and strong.   A multitude of large green stick insects liked to hide amongst the foliage, and each Spring we loved to listen to the male blackbird which trilled his love song from the highest branch to potential mates.  Over the years Robin’s tree grew, and grew, and grew. It grew so much that we realised it was casting a great shadow over half of our lounge windows.  With sadness, Robin came to the conclusion that his wonderful tree had outgrown the garden and would just have to go.

Japanese Twisted Conifer

The day of reckoning had arrived, and Greg and his assistant, from Kiwi Tree Services, arrived at 8.00am on a very frosty morning.  The truck was backed up on the grass verge, and a line of traffic cones was placed along the gutter to create a safety barrier.  The assistant filled up the fuel tank on the mulcher, and everything was ready.  

Truck and mulcher all ready for action

Greg started by lopping off the lower branches, and his assistant fed these into the mulcher, which sprayed the debris into the back of the truck.

Starting off low

In one end and out the other

On went the safety harness and ropes and carrying his chainsaw. Greg started climbing up the tree, chopping off branches as he went.

Up he goes

Silhouetted against the rather hazy sky.

After four hours hard work the tree was practically all down.  We are donating the firewood to a neighbour from across the street.

Not much more to go now

The two self seeded Cabbage Trees from the garden have been removed as well.  We will have to be careful when we chose a replacement tree to plant in the front garden, won’t we?  Perhaps we should just stick to shrubs this time.  We noticed a sad lonely blackbird fluttering about wondering where on earth his favourite tree had disappeared to.  As we went out for the afternoon we noticed our neighbour making the first of many trips to move the firewood across the road from our house to his.  He must have been working really hard as it had all been moved on our return at 6.00pm.

Big pile of firewood in front of the deck