Still leaning left, especially Al Pine No. I.
A couple weeks back I caught a photo of these two pine trees behind my backyard neighbors’ fence and shared my anxiety about an eventual fall. They were covered with snow. I could see a possible topple in the future.
Here’s that Knock Down, Stay Up post.
On the way back from my glorious walk with Ellie B aka Dogamous Pyle this warm afternoon, I saw the lean to the left as even more obvious as I approached our Syracuse city neighborhood of Eastwood home. The left pine leans more precipitously than the right pine. But still I worry that both are approaching the end of their glorious cycle of nature.
This particular photo also puts the height of the pines compared to our home and their proximity to my roof in pretty good perspective.
Hey, neighbor …
I have already mentioned it once when I saw somebody out front as Ellie B and I walked past the front of the house.
No reaction.
Is there something in a yard near you that amps up your anxiety? Would you start a neighborhood ruckus about an issue?
Mark Bialczak 
Pingback: City Arborist gives my neighbor’s pines the OK | markbialczak
Take good care! I think I already shared with you the story about the old mama oak tree in our backyard. Old trees are so beautiful but they can do so much damage.
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I recall your story, Sandra, the last time I posted my worries about these two pines. I must do something besides blog-blathering about them. Today?!
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Go easy on yourself. Sometimes it’s hard to know what to do with mother nature. We asked a city arborist to come give us their recommendation. That made the process of removal go so much faster because it was a protected tree. Even trees have legal advisers these days. At least that’s the case in this litigious state of ours.
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I left a message on my city arborist’s voice mail soon after our last comment conversation, Sandra. I hope he calls back and visits to give his legal and tree advice!
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Very good! Fingers crossed that you hear from him soon.
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Mark, that is an issue that should definitely be brought up quickly. You have a Leaning Tower of Pine-za action going on there, only I think that one won’t be around for centuries. In Owensboro the city comes around every year and cuts the tops out of the trees that are getting too tall like that one, especially if they are leaning as dangerously as that one is. No power lines in view, but it could certainly take out the roof and cause severe injuries to anyone unlucky enough to be in that part of the house or the yard. Possible solution could be to ask the Fire Dept. to make a security check of the area, and let them talk to the owner of the trees. Around here they make the checks occasionally, if they happen to be in the neighborhood and see the hazard about to happen. Have a friend there you can invite to dinner? Or maybe to walk with and just happen to see the hazardous view? They would rather tell the home owner to take it down than to have to come in and rescue people trapped inside when the tree takes out the roof. Learned a little Search & Rescue about a hundred years ago, so I remember the adrenalin pump it takes to go in the collapsed home and look for survivors. And the talks with the mental health people after the rescue if it isn’t successful. Some of them weren’t.
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You are alarming me into action, Angie. I do not wish for you to have to rush up from Kentucky in your chair to pull people out from under the Leaning Tower of Pine-Za. Seriously, thank you for your great advice.
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i feel your pain. there is a tree from the yard behind my house that is growing and hanging precariously over towards the top of my house. they have not been here long and i don’t know them yet, so not sure what approach to take as of now.
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I think maybe summer backyard barbecue season could give you in Ann Arbor and we in Syracuse the chance to politely relate our tree anxieties to our backyard neighbors, Beth. Maybe?
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yes, that sounds like quite a good plan, a little negotiation, and a little bbq, and a little beer and all may be resolved. )
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The tree that bothers me most is our own. I hope no one starts a ruckus! It’s a big and beautiful tree. Been there longer than the neighborhood. I hope nothing happens to it. It looks healthy. But if goes in all but one direction it could take 2 or 3 houses with it. Or….damage in some way. 😦
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Oh, my, Colleen. A tree expert can tell you it’s healthy for sure for just a little bit of money. Then again, our guy told us it was best to take down the huge silver maple in our backyard.
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We should probably have it checked. It certainly looks healthy. It makes me sad for trees to come down.
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I phoned our local council just last week about their 100foot poplar tree that had deposited huge branches in our garden. Could hardly believe it when the lady I spoke to took action. Tree surgeon has been for a visit already. Trees will be pruned in autumn. No branches are loose.
If there is someone you can call Mark then I would. (Would – wood!)
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I don’t know if the city would take action on a tree in somebody’s yard, but I can try, Rachel. Thanks for the story of success!
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Could you have a city inspector come and look at the situation and get his/her opinion?
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No, I don’t think so, because they’re not in my yard. I think the neighbor would have to do it, PJ. I should call the city and ask.
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I don’t think it would hurt to ask and if they can come and give you an educated opinion it might make you and Karen feel a little better (I know it would me) or possibly have they may have suggestions for the neighbors whose yard they are in.
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Thank you, PJ. The neighbors have gotten an opinion for all I know. I guess I’ll break down and ask them about it.
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Oh. Wow. Yes, those definitely generate great concern. I appreciate trees, but there is a distinction of trees being “too tall.”
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And too crooked. Let’s not forget the lean, Chris.
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Don’t get me started. Geez, that should be somebody’s blog title. Every time I look at your pics now, ads pop up on them and make me sad.
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Really? How quickly do the ads pop up on my pictures? As far as I knew, I signed up for one, at the bottom of the blog. Thanks, Kerbey.
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Like as soon as I look at them. 😦
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Crap. I will investigate.
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OK, Kerbey, about the sliding ad issue. WordAds sent me a private post later today saying I am part of a “small number” of sites being tested in a new ad platform called Luminate, where the ads slide over selected pictures. Wow.
I found an example on my own blog, and if you look in the corner of of the sliding ad, there is an ‘x’ in the corner to click to make the ad vanish.
Thanks for pointing this out to me. Sorry it made you sad, my friend.
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Yes, I do X them out. I guess you are special to be a lab rat!
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Pardon me. My bell is ringing. I must push the little lever to be fed. I mashed up Pavlov’s dogs with the lab rats, Kerbey, special though I am.
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There are a couple of really precarious pines leaning toward our house also..they drop some pretty good size limbs now and then. I don’t think my neighbor is in a position to have anything done with them though. I know exactly how you feel about these trees!
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Sometimes I think I just worry about stuff more than other folks do, Kim. You do, too, obviously. Oy.
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I’ll take that “Oy” and raise you and “Oh my”!
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