Our trees are a treasure

By Carolyn McNulty

What a terrific article Kristine Hoyt wrote about our historic eucalyptus colonnade! I look forward to seeing those magnificent trees on my way to work each morning. I’m usually the first in line to turn left off Main onto Ramona Street, giving me a moment or two to just gaze at those beautiful trees. They seem to almost meet overhead when viewed from the turning lane. They look cool even on the hottest days.

Sometimes I think about the early Ramonans who planted them to make shade for their wagon rides and shade for the future. Once I remembered that Atlanta, Ga., planted lots of trees to lower their city’s temperature. Our trees are a treasure.

Then I turned to Jeff Mitchell’s “Love them or cut them” editorial. He may have used the word “love” first, and briefly mentioned the words “beauty,” “shade” and “windbreak,” but the article was mostly against the trees. We all know that eucalyptus trees can break and catch fire. Any tree can.

One of my pine trees nearly fell all the way over during a strong wind that followed a soaking rain. We kept it. We propped it up until its roots were secure again, and it now shades the second story window in front of me as I type.

My goal is to create a forest of pines, eucalyptus, and oaks on my 2-1/2 acres. We’re building a concrete wall to protect our property and trees from the next fire.

We choose to live with many things that can harm us. We’re much more likely to be harmed by a car than a eucalyptus, but we keep driving. We’re much more likely to be harmed by alcohol than a eucalyptus, but it’s still legal. How about swimming pools, double cheeseburgers and kitchen knives? All are potentially harmful, and some or all are part of each Ramonan’s life.

We need to be careful of what we choose to eliminate from our lives. Can you imagine what that section of Highway 67 would look like without those 100-year-old trees? I get an idea when I approach Ramona Street from Day Street. The gaping hole left by that giant is still hard for me to see. Interestingly, the property developers told the Tree Trust that they weren’t removing the tree. When I saw it was gone, I vowed to never enter the business that eventually goes in that spot.

While I’m taking my business away from places that don’t support the trees, there’s another bit of business. I won’t know if this letter is published unless someone tells me because I’m canceling my subscription to the Sentinel, effective immediately.

Carolyn McNulty is a 20-year Ramona resident and wife of the Tree Trust’s Tree Steward.