Nearly four years ago when we moved here we were told to chop down this old cherry tree. But she was covered in leaves and we didn’t have the heart. So Rich propped her up with a length of pine, and every year she came back, with her beautiful blossom under which we sat drinking wine
And her copious amounts of cherries. She fed the birds, she fed us.
Last year Rich set up the swinging seat I bought him (for 3€) for his birthday from it’s boughs. But when I look at it now I can see her leaves were dropping in July, and I believe she was dying even then.
Just last month I took a picture of it and you can see where the seat was. But then we noticed two weeks ago that if you decided to sit in the seat, your bum would be scraping the floor! The hooley from a few weeks ago had wreaked the final damage on her that she could take.
So Rich removed the seat and we deliberated on whether it was time to let the old girl go. She had some buds, but some parts had died and her trunk was sounding hollow. We didn’t have the heart to chop her down, but had a dilemma with the Welshies.
But as we considered what to do nature took the decision out of our hands. Yesterday, on a bright, warm, sunny day, as my washing blew in the wind
As we chopped and split yet more logs getting ready for our new venture, there was suddenly the sound of loud cracking and snapping. The Welshies stopped in their tracks and Rich shouted ‘that’s the tree’ as an almighty crack and the sound if splitting filled the air and down she came.
It was time to let the old girl go.
Poor Rich, he had just put his chainsaw away, after the chain became too loose, only to get it back out. More wood!
so in the evening sunshine we took two garden chairs up by the tree cracked open a beer, and said goodbye. We felt sad though, that cherry could tell so many stories, but nature showed us that sometimes things come to an end. It has changed the whole landscape of our garden. Everything must change.
Moisy
Rosie’sFrenchAdventuresandIrish Shenanigans.com 
Perhaps you will be able to find another – a young cherry tree to plant in the yard, to continue the tradition.
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Rich laughed at that and said no more trees, we still have about 20! He just keeps seeing wood now!
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Oh, she was beautiful, and lived a long, productive life. I hate losing trees. We lost a gorgeous Japanese Maple to Verticillium Wilt a couple years ago. I had planted her myself shortly after we moved here. She was about 20 and had provided the most amazing shady spot in our front garden. We also lost an apple tree, absolutely chock full of delicious apples. She was always a leaner, and she got so heavy, she toppled over. They were able to replant her. The tree specialists said the shrews had dug so many little tunnels around her roots that she was no longer stable. Nature! All those apples went to good use. We made hard cider out of them and then traded it for all kinds of fun things, fresh caught ocean salmon, honey from a friend with hives, and my husband even traded some for Philly Cheesesteak sandwiches from a food cart in downtown Portland. Bartering is alive and well in the big city, lol. Thanks for the beautiful post!
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Thank you, she was beautiful, but as we know the landscapes always changing. Shame about maple, they are stunning, but good about the apple tree, can’t believe they could replant her. Moisy ❤️
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I think it’s still good that you waited because she got to blossom and have her last days bearing fruit. To every thing there is season… But now one less tree for Rich and his saw. 🙂 You’ll just have to pick another tree for that swinging seat. Beautiful pictures, Moisy. – Marty
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Thanks Marty, Rich just needs to chop it up now! He is sooooo happy. 😂
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Ah sad to hear the cherry tree lost her battle with the elements 😢 but then she left u her wood so u would have warmth ❤️❤️
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So true, bless her, we 3 years of blossom. It has changed the whole landscape of the garden ❤️
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