Rose Cottage Ltd

I’ve been watching the leaves fall from the trees just as they do about this time each year. The most obvious thoughts are that raking needs to be done and winter is on its way. But yesterday I had a third thought as I noticed how much more of things I can see and hear once foliage is gone.

Most people don’t pay any attention to trees and if they think at all about the leaves it is only to take a quick appreciation of fall color. But what about the noise abatement and cooling leaves provide? What about the bit of privacy they can provide between houses or between busy roadways and residential areas?

What is the overall effect of removing a large block of trees from an environment?

If you’ve ever walked from a heavily shaded area into the bright sun and heat of an asphalt parking lot you will know – if you took a second to actually think about it. What if you had a look at the aerial view of a Google Map from 15 years ago of a suburban area (if they were available,) and then looked at the same map now. How many formerly treed areas have been completely cleared – leaving yet another wide open parking lot or a new subdivision – where they will no doubt plant a few new trees?

I’m not pondering this because I have no paint to watch dry or because I am going into some global warming post – although I do think we are destroying huge portions of this planet. There are plenty of municipal areas that consider the importance of “green space” and plenty of people who will only relocate to an area that has an abundance of it. On the other hand, people who live in urban areas hardly even see a tree – unless it’s in some sort of exhibit or if it is one of those lone and hardy stragglers you see – attempting to grow up and through a concrete sidewalk.

In a world that seems to have gone so completely stupid in some ways I think today I will just ponder trees. They provide a service most don’t appreciate, they never whine or complain, and they just continue doing a good job of making the world a better place – as long as someone doesn’t come along and knock them down.

There are certainly worse things to think about.

Hard to believe but next weekend is Labor Day weekend. Three weekends later, Fall arrives on September 22, 2012.

Found this map that might prove helpful if you are thinking about a trip to the country this Fall to “Peep” at some leaves!

Don’t forget! Only another week or so for your chance to win the ProblemSolvers $300 Shopping Spree…

Happy Weekend!