Our Tree, Senex, Has Died
At my request, our tenant checked on our old tree, Senex. This photo is a little hard to interpret, even if you know the tree, but the trunk, which was largely old and rotten burned out completely.
Senex was an old tree and certainly in its declining years, but I am very saddened by its passing. It has always been there, ever since I can remember. I'm glad that several years ago, I developed the habit of saying goodbye to our named trees on the morning I'd leave from a visit. We had six of them throughout my childhood. We lost Howgie to the oak fungus a few years ago. In this fire, we have lost Quercus Frater and Senex. I am hopeful that Quercus Maxima, Drus, and Phagos [edit: Phegos, my bad] have survived. Even so, we've now lost three of six. I used to think I might see one or maybe two of the die in my lifetime. Now, I feel there's a real chance I'll see them all gone in the next few years. This is not normal. This is climate crisis.
Goodbye, Senex, my grandparent.
Senex was an old tree and certainly in its declining years, but I am very saddened by its passing. It has always been there, ever since I can remember. I'm glad that several years ago, I developed the habit of saying goodbye to our named trees on the morning I'd leave from a visit. We had six of them throughout my childhood. We lost Howgie to the oak fungus a few years ago. In this fire, we have lost Quercus Frater and Senex. I am hopeful that Quercus Maxima, Drus, and Phagos [edit: Phegos, my bad] have survived. Even so, we've now lost three of six. I used to think I might see one or maybe two of the die in my lifetime. Now, I feel there's a real chance I'll see them all gone in the next few years. This is not normal. This is climate crisis.
Goodbye, Senex, my grandparent.