No, not Calaveras Big Trees in California (calm down, RC.) This is the Oregon version. We have a...oh,let's mark it at 130-feet...a Big & Tall tree next to our house. It is of the poplar/cottonwood persuasion, truly THE messiest tree ever invented. It drops sticky/staining seed pods year-round, drops leaves year-round, and self-prunes its small branches year-round. Recently, however, it has started to drop bigger branches. Friday night it dropped a load in the form of a 10-inch diameter log. Fortunately, it failed to kill anyone or anything as it came crashing down but since a good portion of the remaining tree overhangs the house, we're wising up fast to the idea that it might be time to have the tree removed (which is considerly easier and less expensive than moving ourselves).

 

We're in the process of getting bids from local woodchucks, lumberjacks, and other tree enthusiasts. Taking down a large tree is not a cheap proposal (unlike those Russian

brides-by-mail, but I digress...). We're looking at about $2K for the rights to yell "TIMBER!" and to get some firewood out of the deal. But at least we'd get a better night's sleep. That tree is right outside our bedroom window...watching...it's always watching.

 

For those...oh, let's call them "arborists", that have come out to give us a bid, it's definitely been an interesting character study. Each and every one of them is just a big kid who loves climbing trees! They get really excited and animated talking about about how fun it will be "roping" those branches, and "swinging" them over the house. I'm wary of heights myself so I just think they're "nuts". But I do appreciated their enthusiasm. Big trees are just giant jungle gyms to these guys. Huge play structures for tree monkeys. Go at it fellas, knock yourself out. You're licensed and bonded, right?