Dear MOTHER: August/September 2010

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PHOTO: ISTOCKPHOTO
"Every time we drive by one of our old houses and see those wonderful specimens, we feel great joy in knowing we had the foresight to plant those trees many years ago." — reader Tom Walsh

In response to Best Trees for Your Yard, many readers wrote to petition for also planting slower-growing, ultimately larger trees. More than one cited the Greek proverb, “A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.” We certainly agree. (After all, MOTHER’s logo is an ancient oak tree.) It’s heartening to hear from so many homeowners willing to plant for the enjoyment and shady refuge of future generations. Many of the projects MOTHER promotes ultimately benefit not only those doing the planting, conserving or building today, but also those to come. The letters we received championing planting trees for the long haul confirmed how important this perspective is to all of you.

Trees for Future Generations

I’m disappointed in Jeff Ball’s advice on the best trees to plant (Best Trees for Your Yard). He instructs readers to leave large shade trees (oaks, hickories, maples) off of their lists because they might take decades to reach full maturity. Shame on him for advising against planting such beautiful trees now, as their beauty and environmental benefits can be enjoyed for generations.

I’m glad my wife and I (and countless others) haven’t limited ourselves to fast-growing varieties. We remain quite proud of the beautiful oaks and maples we’ve planted over the years. Every time we drive by one of our old houses and see those wonderful specimens, we feel great joy in knowing we had the foresight to plant those trees many years ago.

Tom Walsh
Schaumburg, Illinois

  • Published on Sep 7, 2010
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