You get what you pay for
Aug 12, 2021 08:48:25 #
I thought this might be more suited to chit chat than gallery.
In 1972 when my father in law built his home (now our “cottage”) he built a lovely little island about 40’ off the mainland which created a nice area for the grandkids to swim and play. A birch tree popped up and became favourite lookout spot for the kingfishers. Unfortunately the tree had lots of little twigs on top and they almost always were across the birds’ faces. I laughingly told my neighbour I was going to have my husband take a ladder across and trim the tree. (That was obviously said tongue in cheek because my husband is disabled and unable to climb.) A bit later the same neighbour asked for a recommendation for a tree service as he had a dead tree to be cut. I told him who we had used, he said he was too expensive and he was taking the cheapest quote he’d received. When his guys finished he had them kayak to the island to trim the birch and I’m sure he thought he was doing something nice for me. But you get what you pay for!
In 1972 when my father in law built his home (now our “cottage”) he built a lovely little island about 40’ off the mainland which created a nice area for the grandkids to swim and play. A birch tree popped up and became favourite lookout spot for the kingfishers. Unfortunately the tree had lots of little twigs on top and they almost always were across the birds’ faces. I laughingly told my neighbour I was going to have my husband take a ladder across and trim the tree. (That was obviously said tongue in cheek because my husband is disabled and unable to climb.) A bit later the same neighbour asked for a recommendation for a tree service as he had a dead tree to be cut. I told him who we had used, he said he was too expensive and he was taking the cheapest quote he’d received. When his guys finished he had them kayak to the island to trim the birch and I’m sure he thought he was doing something nice for me. But you get what you pay for!
The birch tree
The kingfisher surrounded by twigs
An occasional picture without twigs in her face
The birch tree with twigs gone but also the entire right side of the tree! You get what you pay for!
Aug 12, 2021 09:10:23 #
Aug 12, 2021 09:30:54 #
Marg wrote:
I thought this might be more suited to chit chat t... (show quote)
A tree may live for hundreds of years and this one mutilated forever probably. There would be many chances to photograph Kingfishers.
I am not particularly familiar with the life cycle of Birch trees, but I am familiar with Live Oak, Pine, Fir, and Red Wood as we have in California. One must be careful triming Live Oak and in some places the rarer species you are not allowed to cut even on your own property.
Bird photographers
, I hope they are not all so selfish. 
Aug 12, 2021 09:43:13 #
lamiaceae wrote:
I am not particularly familiar with the life cycle of Birch trees...
We had a white birch in the ward when we moved her in 1966. I don't know how long it had been growing, but it died and fell down last year.
Aug 12, 2021 09:50:48 #
Aug 12, 2021 09:54:52 #
Often, I will share a UHH post with my wife. This isn’t one of them since she will immediately remind me of the butcher job I did on some of our overgrown shrubbery a couple years ago. That said, your dad created a lasting memory. Very nice.
Aug 12, 2021 09:55:30 #
kvanhook wrote:
So sad.
I agree, Ken,very sad. We were horrified when we saw what had happened.
Aug 12, 2021 09:59:05 #
lamiaceae wrote:
A tree may live for hundreds of years and this one... (show quote)
Aww, Mike that wasn’t the point of the post. The photographer you question I guess is me. I did not ask that this be done but perhaps in future I should be more careful of what I say to my neighbour or how I say it. I agree that it is likely disfigured for life and am saddened by that fact.
Aug 12, 2021 09:59:48 #
Aug 12, 2021 10:01:55 #
jerryc41 wrote:
We had a white birch in the ward when we moved her in 1966. I don't know how long it had been growing, but it died and fell down last year.
I think in the yard, particularly in a harsh climate, the life span of a white birch is about 30-40 years, Jerry so glad you got to enjoy it longer.
Aug 12, 2021 10:02:41 #
Very nice set Marg and interesting about the birch tree. We have one in our front yard and it’s growing nicely. Hope yours’ fills out soon. Looks great on the Island.
Aug 12, 2021 10:04:53 #
47greyfox wrote:
Often, I will share a UHH post with my wife. This isn’t one of them since she will immediately remind me of the butcher job I did on some of our overgrown shrubbery a couple years ago. That said, your dad created a lasting memory. Very nice.
FYI 47greyfox your wife sounds like me. I cried every time my husband went out to trim anything but the lawn. I was always pleasantly surprised that within a couple of years his efforts proved to be beneficial to the shrubbery. (And yes, we have loved and cherished this island for almost 50 years!)
Aug 12, 2021 10:08:31 #
gsmith051 wrote:
Very nice set Marg and interesting about the birch tree. We have one in our front yard and it’s growing nicely. Hope yours’ fills out soon. Looks great on the Island.
I hope it does, George although it’s now almost 50 years old I guess. My father in law planted a few things out there and my kids and I planted milkweed and coneflowers but a lot was probably planted by birds!
Aug 12, 2021 10:19:28 #
Aug 12, 2021 10:23:43 #
kpmac wrote:
Looks like when I tried to cut my own hair. What a shame.
It is, indeed, Ken.
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