The Life Of A Tree

In 2002, Kelly and I bought an old house in Toronto's east end. A 72 year old house, in fact, and along with it came a 72 year old silver maple, which dominated our backyard.

Spring

About the worst I could say about the tree is that, between its shade and the large numbers of squirrels who lived in its 100 foot branches, it wasn't that good for our tomato crop.

Fall

 
But there's much more to a tree than what it gets in the way of.  There is, for example, what it shelters, like gatherings of friends and family on this patio.

Or croquet, or lunch al fresco









































Or the 55 species of birds we've seen in and around it, from its thick base, up its trunk and in its branches:

American Crow, American Goldfinch, American Redstart, American Robin, Baltimore Oriole.

Oriole with a grub from the wasp nest it was raiding.

Bay-Breasted Warbler, Black and White Warbler, Black-Capped Chickadee, Black-Throated Blue Warbler, Black-Throated Green Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Blue Jay.

Blue-Winged Warbler, Brown Creeper, Brown-Headed Cowbird, Brown Thrasher, Canada Warbler, Cedar Waxwing, Chestnut-Sided Warbler, Chipping Sparrow, Common Grackle, Common Yellowthroat, Dark-Eyed Junco, Downy Woodpecker.

Eastern Kingbird, Eastern Wood Peewee, European Starling, Flycatcher (Alder or Willow?), Golden-Crowned Kinglet.

Grey Catbird, Hairy Woodpecker.

Hermit Thrush , House Finch, House Sparrow, Magnolia Warbler.

Mourning Dove.

Nashville Warbler, Northern Cardinal, Northern Parula, Palm Warbler, Philadelphia Vireo, Pine Warbler, Red-Breasted Nuthatch.

Red-Winged Blackbird, Red-Eyed Vireo, Rose-Breasted Grosbeak, Ruby-Crowned Kinglet, Rusty Blackbird , Scarlet Tanager, Song Sparrow, White-Breasted Nuthatch.

Winter Wren, Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker , Yellow Warbler, Yellow-Rumped Warbler.

Or a family of racoons. One night we counted 11. This guy was still there in the morning.

There are even loved ones buried in its shade.

It's been an important part of this neighbourhood for more than 80 years, and of our home for the past 11.

How do you say goodbye to a tree like that?