in memoriam

Our tree is gone. 🙁 The courtyard looks so empty without him. A lovely 30-foot tall Chinese Elm, he served us well in the two short years that we lived under his graceful branches. Sadly, he was ill towards the end, losing all his leaves in early summer, and those that remained hanging on were lacy and eaten through by insects feasting on the weak. His roots had spread far and wide — perhaps too wide, as he had only twelve feet to grow before he hit house foundations on either side. He was beautiful but ill, tall and honorable but a danger to himself and to those for whom he provided meager shade. And so we reached the sad realization that his time had come to an end.

Ah, fair tree, we shall always remember you fondly. May the little brother we plant in your place grow so tall and green. [sniffle]