Oh My Weeping Willow!

If ever a tree was a member of the family this one was it. It all began in 1960 when my dad was clearing the side yard to make way for a driveway. Only 4 years old I was helping dad with my toy wheel barrow as he filled it up then told me to dump it in the woods. I wheeled it down a small hill but instead of going into the woods I dumped the contents at the back edge of the back yard. In that pile of debris there was a small Willow sapling that took root. I remember using the garden hose to water the willow and see that tree shoot up so much that within 10-12 years it towered over the house! Over the years that followed it gained the height of about 80' as large branches spread out. Every so often a large storm would break off a large branch. Now that my niece, her husband and their children live in my childhood home it was time to cut the Willow back. A full grown Willow consumes about 80 barrels of water a day! Completely removing a willow tree raises the water table. Iron Tree Service out of Wenham showed up to trim back the Willow and remove a dying Maple tree. For about two hours they completed their job that had the neighborhood amazed at their aerial skills that reminded me of watching a circus trapeze act! Now that I live next door I can watch the rebirth of our Willow in her second 50 years of life! 

Hooking up

 Flying high!

 Watching in amazement!

 Being lowered into the "jungle".

 Flying over the house!

 The Maple comes back down to earth.

 A doubled teamed trunk heading to the chipper.

 Heading back up.

 "Tree hugger"!

 Wood chips fly!

Tree kicks out hitting worker!

No damage done and he's back to work.

                           
Tossing a chunk of Willow.

 Flying Willow!

 You don't see this every day!

 To the chipper.

 Trimming the dead wood

 Getting ready for a leg toss!

 There it goes.

 Another hunk gone.

 To the chipper.

 Under the bark.