how old was the executed tree?

In Ft. Myer Heights Park sits the lifeless stump of a large, old tree executed on April 21, 2011.  How old was that tree when it was executed?  Because the Ode Street Tribune believes in participatory journalism, we ask you to investigate and report.  Please file your report in the comments below.  To help persons unable to travel to Ft. Myer Heights Park for an onsite investigation, we've posted an image of the stump above.  Click on the image to see a higher-resolution image.

Update:  Fifteen years after the tree was planted, its growth seems to have decreased sharply.   Can anyone explain this development? 

trees executed in Ft. Myer Heights Park

Yesterday, two trees in Ft. Myer Heights Park were marked with white, spray-painted X's.  Today, those two trees were executed.  Fresh sawdust and limbs with green leaves slowly going limp litter the site of the execution.  Without a doubt, those trees were alive before they were executed.

The Ode Street Tribune has written in support of dead trees.   These trees were alive.  It's true that they had some health problems.  The smaller tree was rotten at its core.  Many organisms that are rotten at the core continue to exist for a long time.  The larger tree was old, and had some blotches and dysfunctional limbs.  But old age and feebleness doesn't make a tree less of a tree.  Like the other tree, it still spread some green leaves. 

Before these living trees were executed, we had no discussions, no meetings, no options documents, and no reports.  Action was simply taken.  It is finished.  We can only walk away demoralized and discouraged.

Westmoreland tree cracked

A large branch on one of Westmoreland Terrace's huge, magnificent trees has cracked.  This Thursday a crane and tree surgeons will be at Westmoreland for an emergency amputation of the limb.  This operation will cost the condo association several thousand dollars.

To make way for the emergency tree operation, cars must be removed by 7:30am on Thursday from the fifteen parking spaces near the recycling bins on the interior curb-line of Westmoreland's N. Ft. Myer Dr. parking lot.  These spots are at the rear of 1322 N.Ft. Myer Dr.  Cars can return to those parking spaces after 5pm on Thursday.

While having a tree lose a large limb and the condo association spend additional money is unfortunate, the situation could have been much worse.  Consider the situation as a good reason to look up.

As an Ode Street Tribune reader, you have the good luck to be informed that Thursday is St. Patrick's Day.  Celebrate St. Patrick's Day by making your home more green.  Arlington's Under One Roof blog is running a green living series that offers ideas for helping the environment and reducing energy bills (that's a green green benefit).  You can find there information on solar panels as well as the common-sense advice of starting with an energy audit and simple, low-cost remedial measures.

follow-up on suspected tree murder

About a month ago, the Ode Street Tribune reported a fresh stump surrounded by a pool of sawdust near the Netherlands Carillon. We asked a local tree expert for a forensic analysis.  His report:

The pictured stump shows no sign of decay, and the wood appears sound.  I can't ascertain by the picture if the tree was truly dead.  The stump had been removed by the time I got over there.

By the way, if there are relatively few or no leaves on a tree it may not be dead but just drought-stressed.  Trees may give up their leaves to conserve moisture when the soil is dry for a prolonged period as a survival strategy.  We had little rain April through June and in August.  However, if a tree has few or no leaves and also has many twigs/branches that are brittle, or next season's buds haven't formed by late autumn, that tree may be dead or close to it.  I'm sure Park Service personnel know how to make these determinations.

As to your second question, it is a fine strategy to leave dead tree trunks standing (snags), so various wildlife forms can utilize them.   In a park setting though, there may be considerations of safety or aesthetics.

There are a few other trees in the park that are in poor shape.  Let's hope the National Park Service will replace trees that are removed whenever possible.

The Ode Street Tribune continues to believe that a tree murder may have occurred.  We suspect some sort of conspiracy.  Use your imagination!

the dead are part of our community

Last Sunday I noticed a fresh stump surrounded by a pool of sawdust near the Netherlands Carillon.  The next day I asked a park ranger about the stump.  He said that the Park Service had cut down the tree because it was dead.

Some questions:

1. How do you distinguish between the living and the dead?
2. Judging by the stump, do you think that this tree was dead?
3. Why is it necessary to cut down an allegedly dead tree in the middle of the park? 

The dead are neither frightful nor scary.  The dead should not be avoided or chopped down (burial or cremation is ok if they start to smell).  The Ode Street Tribune believes that a healthy, inclusive community should include the dead. 

crape myrtle revives!

About four months ago, the crape myrtle in front of Westmoreland Condos had all its limbs cut off.  That's called "hard pruning."  Then we've had a blisteringly hot summer.  Yet, amazingly, now the crape myrtle is blooming.  Never give up, never surrender!

rain garden needs rain

The trees in the new rain garden in Ft. Myer Heights Park desperately need rain.  Let's hope for rain all weekend long.  Alternative idea: convince Arlington County to deploy one of the beasts of the boulevard to provide emergency watering.   Readers, rally to the cause!

tree injured, fallen limbs obstruct highway

The storm last night blew off the top of a venerable oak tree just outside Arlington Cemetery.  The tree's condition looks critical, but it may have enough remaining branches to survive and regrow more.

Caring for injured trees should be a priority in the neighborhood.  Arlington Urban Forestry Commission member Steve Campbell informed the RAFOM annual meeting that the tree canopy in the Radnor / Ft. Myer Heights is rated at 20%, lower than that for the Ballston / Virginia Sq. area (23%) and far below the over-all Arlington figure (41%).  The injured tree is only slightly outside the Radnor / Ft. Myer Heights boundary.  I hope that this injured tree receives some emergency care. 

The fallen tree limbs obstructed the bike and pedestrian highway leading to the main entrance of Arlington Cemetery.  Because the obstruction is on a curve at the bottom of a hill, it presents a significant traffic hazard.  A local cyclist assumed that it would not be possible to reset the limb, and hence he broke back some of the fallen limbs to lessen the traffic hazard.   But some branches remain, and traffic sight-lines are still somewhat obstructed.

get a free tree

Arlington County is offering free trees to residents to encourage planting of more trees on private property.  Four species of trees are available:  American Sycamore, Swamp White Oak, River Birch and Sweetbay Magnolia.

Residents of the Radnor / Ft. Myer Heights neighborhood who want to order a tree should send an email to Steve Campbell at "mitska at juno dot com"  Orders must be received by April 30.  Trees will be delivered to your home in mid-May.

avoid borers

Nobody likes being bored. Especially ash trees, because the Emerald Ash Borer literally kills them. Emerald Ash Borers were discovered in Virginia in the spring of 2008. Let's keep Rosslyn exciting and free of borers.

Fortunately, we've got an Emerald Ash Borer Detection Box on an ash tree in Ft. Myers Heights Park, just below Westmoreland Condos. As far as I can tell, the box is totally soaked, along with everything else around here. I didn't notice any borers, but maybe they're hiding. I hope the box detects 'em if they're around.

Correction: The box is hanging on a maple tree. Steve Campbell attended a talk on the Emerald Ash Borer and found out that ash trees are the preferred trees from which to hang a detection box. Ft. Myer Heights Park probably got one on a maple tree because the park is a good location for detection in general. Steve also explained, "the box is very sticky, the emerald ash borer is somewhat attracted to that purple color, and there is no pheronome in the glue but there is melaleuca (tea tree oil) which they are also are attracted to."

tree give-away

Two trees from the Arlington County Tree Give-Away are available through RAFOM. Some details from Steve Campbell:

Trees will be approximately 3' to 5' in height, in two-gallon plastic containers.

Trees will be delivered to us [RAFOM] May 7-9 and will be distributed to those who have ordered them very soon after. Trees you receive must be planted within one week after you receive them. Planting guidelines will be supplied with the plants.

Requests must be submitted not later than April 17,2008.

For more info and to submit a request, contact Steve Campbell, email mitska 'at' juno.com.

nominate a tree

Arlington currently has 150 trees on an official list of notable trees. If you've got a notable tree, nominate it to be added to this illustrious list. There are no legal or tax implications for an owner of a notable tree. Only neighborhood glory and honor.